The ABC of Ethanol/Gasohol

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The ABC of Ethanol/Gasohol

Home >> Infobank >> Know your vehicle >> The ABC of Ethanol/Gasohol

Ethanol as Automotive Fuel

Ethanol can be and is used as an automotive fuel by itself. It can also be mixed with Gasoline to form what has been called "Gasohol". Most such common blends contain 10% Ethanol mixed with Gasoline. Over 1 billion gallons of Ethanol are blended with Gasoline every year in the United States.

Because the Ethanol molecule contains oxygen, it allows the engine to more completely combust the fuel, resulting in fewer emissions. Since Ethanol is produced from plants that harness the power of the sun, Ethanol is also considered a renewable fuel. Therefore, Ethanol has many advantages as an automotive fuel.

A vast majority of Ethanol produced even in the developed Countries like the USA is used as a Fuel. It is blended with Gasoline to increase the fuel blend's octane rating or to produce a cleaner burning fuel.

Properties of Water Ethanol
Chemical Formula : H20 CH3CH20H
Molecular Weight : 18.015 46.07
Specific Gravity : 0 .791 (100%)/O .815 (95%)
Surface Tension in Dynes/cm2 : 54.9 @ 40C/ 21.38 @ 40C
Freezing and Melting Point °C : -117.3 /-178.6
Boiling Point 100°C : 78.5C

Some Myths about Ethanol/Gasohol
1. Ethanol is listed as a known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Ethanol Response: Ethanol has been found to cause liver cancer for heavy drinkers. Ethanol used in gasoline has not been found to pose any risk to human health. Quite the opposite is true for virtually every chemical in gasoline that ethanol replaces, including benzene and MTBE, which is listed as a possible human carcinogen.

2. The cost of Reformulated Gasoline with Ethanol will increase 3-6 cents per gallons compared to RFG with MTBE.

Ethanol Response: It is doubtful that the cost of Reformulated Gasoline will increase with Ethanol instead of MTBE. Any cost increase would be more than offset by what taxpayers will save in not having to clean up pollution caused by MTBE.

3. Spills of pure Ethanol or Gasoline containing Ethanol from leaking storage tanks can create a benzene plume up to 150% larger than a spill from a non-Ethanol fuel.

Ethanol Response: First off, how could a spill of pure Ethanol create a Benzene plume? That pretty much shows you how accurate their accusations are. Studies on Benzene plums are incomplete and inconclusive.

In addition, Ethanol would reduce the chances of Benzene getting into the ground and the groundwater because Ethanol effectively reduces the amount of Benzene in Gasoline by diluting it to lower levels when Ethanol is added to Gasoline.

4. Ethanol cannot be shipped by pipeline because of its high affinity for water posing significant distribution costs and hurdles for Gasoline blenders.

Ethanol Response: Ethanol has been shipped via pipeline. Technology is improving that will allow for greater distribution of Ethanol via pipeline, including processes whereby the pipeline companies are able to remove the water and other contaminants from their pipelines, which will improve the quality of all fuels shipped via pipeline. Ethanol shipped via rail and barge from the Midwestern United States to places like California is still much more cost efficient then shipping oil, gasoline and MTBE from the Middle East.

Content generated by S. K. Gupta. - 11/’02.

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