This presentation seeks to explain the characteristics of Ethanol, which has been billed as an alternative source of energy. The importance of petroleum products in terms of its fluctuating cost and the political sensitivity in terms of its uninterrupted supply cannot be overemphasized. This paper will also answer if Ethanol is cost effective. Besides the cost factor and the political implications there is yet another important aspect that is the environmental friendly nature of Ethanol compared to fossil fuels like petroleum, coal, and natural gas which are a major source of pollution. Therefore the world is looking to sources of energy other than the fossil fuels. Cold fusion is one such option being researched. It is in this same context that Ethanol assumes great importance. This study will therefore be attempting to enlighten the readers with a topic of current interest.

Analysis
Let us look at this interesting piece of information: In 2004, U.S. ethanol facilities will set new production records and consumers will use more than 3 billion gallons of ethanol in their automobile”. (Chemical of the Week -- Ethanol2004)
The above quote is revealing in that Ethanol’s use has gained acceptance at a level where it is no longer in the ‘experimental’ or ‘exploratory’ stage. Though nowhere as common as say motor gasoline it nevertheless has assumed a promising beginning in the commercial sense.

Someone who is uninitiated would be right in posing the legitimate question ‘what is Ethanol’? Ethanol is an alcohol, clear and colorless. In dilute form it has a sweet flavor but as a concentrated solution it has a burning taste. In ancient times it was made by fermentation of sugar. Even now when used as a beverage ethanol is made by this method. What is more, this process also makes half of industrial ethanol. Simple sugars are the raw material.

Ethanol is easy to prepare. No elaborate production equipment or technological know-how is required. It can be made in the backyard. Many people are doing just that to run their vehicles on clean burning fuel and reducing their dependence on the leaded gasoline. In the United States such backyard producers require a “small fuel producer” permit from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. This can be easily acquired. Denaturing is not required for ethanol consumed on premises.
A few chemical details about Ethanol. Its chemical formula is CH3CH2OH and its molecule contains a hydroxyl group, –OH, bonded to a carbon atom. Ethanol melts at –114.1°C, boils at 78.5°C, and has a density of 0.789 g/ml at 20°C. Because of its low freezing point it is used as a fluid in thermometers for recording temperatures below –40°C, the freezing point of mercury, and as antifreeze in car radiators.
The American Coalition for Ethanol maintains that Ethanol is a high-performance motor fuel that reduces the poisonous exhaust emissions and is therefore environment friendly. In the United States over 15 billion gallons of ethanol-blended petrol is used annually. This volume constitutes 12 percent of total fuel sales in the U.S. And this figure is increasing with every passing year. Most of the ethanol used is 10 percent blend but 85% to 95% blends are also being tested. Brazil, by comparison, uses 4 billion gallons a year. All fuels in Brazil have a 24 % ethanol content and most of it is 100% ethanol for car engines designed for the same. Leading automobile manufacturers recommend ethanol and include it in their warranty coverage. An interesting statistic is that over two trillion miles have been driven in the U.S. on ethanol-blended fuels since 1980. (Ethanol: Journey to Forever 2004)

Ethanol has a higher octane rating (increases the octane rating by three percent) compared to ordinary motor gasoline. It replaces lead as the octane enhancer in gasoline. Ethanol adds oxygen to the fuel and therefore it burns more completely which reduces emissions of carbon monoxide. Ethanol and ETBE oxygenator, made from ethanol, are much safer than the toxic and polluting MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) fossil-fuel-derived oxygenator used by oil companies. These are big plus points for ethanol (Ethanol: Journey to Forever 2004)
In Canada ethanol is made from corn because Canada has surplus corn production. Now we know that energy is required in (i) growing corn and (ii) in making ethanol out of grain corn. So the energy gained from ethanol must be greater than the combined input in (i) and (ii) above. The following table has figures from actual research conducted:

Summary of Energy Inputs and Outputs
According to the 1995 study produced by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, using state-of-the-art farming and ethanol production techniques would result in the following energy balance:

INPUTS BTU's/Litre of Ethanol
INPUTS - FEEDSTOCK
Fertilizer 1,022
Pesticides 107
Fuel 349
Irrigation 1,597
Other 825
Total 3,901
INPUTS - PROCESSING
Process Steam 6,917
Electricity 1,360
Bulk Transport 211
Other 277
Total 8,766
TOTAL ENERGY INPUT 12,667
OUTPUTS
Energy in Ethanol 22,217
Co-product Credits 9,579
TOTAL ENERGY OUTPUT 31,796
NET ENERGY GAIN 19,130 = 151%

(Canadian Renewable Fuels Association - Energy Balance of Ethanol 2004)
Ceramics Fuel Cells Limited has claimed that its particular fuel cell design will be able to generate clean electricity utilizing ethanol, a totally renewable environment friendly fuel.

(Ethanol shows promise as renewable source of hydrogen for fuel cells 2004)
A research conducted at the Institute of Local Self-Reliance in the US determined that using latest farming techniques, "the amount of energy contained in a gallon of ethanol is more than twice the energy used to grow the corn and convert it to ethanol". (Ethanol: Journey to Forever 2004)
Ethanol can be used as a transport fuel in spark ignition engines. It has high-octane levels and can be either blended into petrol and used in unmodified vehicles, or run as 100 percent ethanol in a converted engine. When produced from agricultural biomass, i.e. bio-ethanol,

it becomes a renewable fuel. The issues here are cost and source of the ethanol, distribution of the fuel, performance of vehicles, and safety and environmental issues. In New Zealand experts determined that blends of up to 10 percent ethanol in petrol (E10) will not reduce performance of cars. Studies in New Zealand indicated that the country could produce enough maize and sugar beet to replace all petrol in New Zealand. Blending can be at bulk storage terminals or during truck loading which process is known as "Splash blending". Using ethanol blend does not enhance emission levels. As bio-ethanol is renewable, CO2 emitted during combustion is taken up in the biomass feedstock. But since ethanol itself requires energy to be produced it is not entirely carbon neutral. CO2 emitted during manufacture is between 30 to 90 percent of CO2 emitted during combustion of ethanol depending on the efficiency of the technology employed. An E10 blend is estimated to give a net CO2 saving of between 1.5 percent and 5.5 percent. (Bio-ethanol as a Transport Fuel? 2004)

In 2002 the Bush administration urged U.S. Senate and House lawmakers negotiating an energy bill to pass legislation that would triple the amount of ethanol-blended gasoline and biodiesel used each year in American cars, trucks and SUV’s. In October 2004 President Bush signed tax measure to benefit the ethanol industry. This shows the President’s commitment to renewable energy. (President Bush signs critical ethanol tax measures into law’ 2004)

Ethanol fuel production provides local jobs and a market for local materials, and helping to keep money and investment within the community. Because of these advantages all the farming states in North America back ethanol fuel. Besides job creation and increased farm income, use of ethanol improves air quality, and provides greater energy independence by reducing imports of foreign oil. A Minnesota farm converts 11,751 bushes a day to produce 33,990 gallons of ethanol and 95 tons of high-protein animal feed. It is estimated that an acre of sugar cane cultivation can yield enough ethanol to drive a four by four vehicle for 15,000 miles. An acre of corn will give less mileage say about 5,000 miles.

The advantages of ethanol can be summarized as follows:
• It does not require high technology to manufacture
• It is a renewable fuel made from plants
o Because it is not a fossil-fuel its manufacture and burning it does not increase the greenhouse effect
• It replaces harmful fuel additives and is also cost effective
• Ethanol blends can be used in all petrol engines without modifications
• It significantly cuts down poisonous exhaust emissions
• The high oxygen content of ethanol cuts down carbon monoxide levels more than any other oxygenate: by 25-30%, according to the US EPA
• Ethanol blends significantly bring down reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, a major contributor to the depletion of the ozone layer
• High-level ethanol blends reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 20%
• Ethanol can reduce net carbon dioxide emissions by up to 100% on a full life-cycle basis
• High-level ethanol blends can reduce emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) by 30% or more (VOCs are major sources of ground-level ozone formation)

• Ethanol reduces emissions of such harmful substances as Sulphur dioxide,Particulate
Matter (PM), benzene and butadiene
• Ethanol use reduces the U.S. trade deficit by $2 billion annually
• Ethanol reduces the need to import 128,000 barrels a day of oil
• Ethanol helps to diversify our energy infrastructure with local production of renewable fuel.