Ethanol and Its Advantages and Disadvantages in the Power Source Play
With increasing frequency, you have probably seen ethanol pop up at your local gas stations as a fuel alternative to your gasoline. Do you know what ethanol actually is? Ethanol is also referred to as grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol. It is an alternative fuel source with an alcohol base. It is often mixed with gasoline to create a higher-octane fuel rating as well as reduce emissions of vehicles.
Ethanol is derived from various grains and plants such as barley, wheat and the most popular, corn. Fermenting the grains and then distilling them in a special process creates this alternative fuel. If you are really into chemistry, you will likely know that CH3CH2OH is ethanol’s chemical formula. This alternative fuel is clear and doesn’t stink like gasoline, probably because it is made from natural ingredients. Ethanol’s popularity is growing because it burns cleaner, is derived from plants and is also renewable. As of now between twenty-five to thirty percent of gasoline in the United States is an ethanol blend.
In regards to the production of ethanol, it was mentioned that some grains like corn are used. The United States uses corn predominately for the ethanol production. However, for such countries like Brazil, it is sugar cane that is used the most. The location and abundance of resources, which also include grain sorghum and biomass (plant leftovers or waste) will dictate how ethanol is produced in a specific area or country.
There are some great advantages to using ethanol as a fuel source. It is because of these advantages that you will likely see more of ethanol in the future. These advantages include:
1. Ethanol is a clean burning fuel, which means that the emissions which contribute to the ozone layer are diminished.
2. Renewable resources are always popular. The great thing about ethanol is that all the plants that are used in the production of it can be re-planted and harvested again for more ethanol.
3. Ethanol production creates more jobs for the economy as well as support the agricultural industry, specifically those farmers who depend on selling their harvests.
4. The progression of ethanol means that our country would become less dependent on foreign oil companies and could gain some independence in the power industry.
5. Ethanol is also safer than gasoline due to the slower evaporation rate versus gasoline. What happens is that because the evaporation is slow, it hinders the alcohol’s concentration level therefore rendering it relatively harmless when it comes to blowing up.
There are two sides to every coin and story. Just as there are some great advantages of ethanol. There are also some disadvantages as well. Read on for some of the arguments against ethanol:
1. Ethanol does not produce as much energy as gasoline. It is about thirty percent less. Because of the reduced energy level, you will not get as much mileage in your automobile. And while ethanol is cheaper as the gas pumps, you can be sure that you will end up filling up your vehicle more often.
2. It takes a lot of grain to keep you in ethanol. That is a lot of farm land, man power and even resources for the production of ethanol.
3. Ethanol can be caustic for the fuel parts in your vehicle that are made from a non-synthetic material or even rubber in its natural form.
4. Crops that are used in producing ethanol should be rotated out. If you plant one particular thing and don’t try cultivating other crops, you could end up degrading your soil.
Ethanol has a great future ahead of it. Because of its increasing popularity, more farmers are growing crops specifically for the creation of ethanol. In addition, there are refineries for ethanol being built as well. You might want to look into whether your current vehicle can handle one of the ethanol blends or not. If it does, you can expect to pay less at the gas pump.
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