What is Ethanol

From our childhood, we have either relished the highly nutritious juice from sugarcane or have used the sugar extracts in our delicacies. Never knew the same sugarcane could be processed to extract fuel to drive our vehicles.

Ethanol is a colourless, flammable, oxygenated, hydrocarbon liquid. Ethanol is used in a wide range of products, including biochemicals, bioplastics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, industrial products (such as solvents and paint), and, increasingly, as a biofuel.

Ethanol Utilization

Personal Care: The personal care products industry is one of the largest users of industrial ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol. Ethanol is widely used in many deodorants, lotions, hand sanitisers, soaps, and shampoos.

Ethanol as Fuel: Pure 100% ethanol is not generally used as a motor fuel; Instead, a percentage of ethanol is combined with unleaded gasoline (like petrol/diesel). Using ethanol as a fuel is beneficial because:

• Reduce the fuel cost
• Increase the fuel’s octane rating
• Decreases gasoline’s harmful emissions

Various studies conducted worldwide have shown that ethanol blending in petrol at different ratios has significantly reduced the emission of GHGs from vehicles.

Difference between Ethanol and Bioethanol

Ethanol is obtained chemically, whereas Bioethanol is obtained from biological matter or plant sources. Ethanol and bioethanol have the same chemical composition.

Advantages of Bioethanol as fuel

There are a number of benefits of using bioethanol as fuel, for beginners, it is a renewable resource, fossil fuels used to make gasoline is non-renewable, so one day they will run out. 

Another compelling reason for using bioethanol as a fuel is its ability to reduce pollution. Ethanol fuel reduces the emissions from vehicles and other places where it is used.

Any steps we can take to lower pollution are always positive. 

Its production opens new markets for farmers and boosts rural economies, and its use offers consumers a convenient way to reduce harmful emissions. 

The governments are increasingly promoting Ethanol.

India:

India grows sugarcane abundantly; it is, in fact, the world’s second-largest producer after Brazil. Thus, promoting the Indian government to consider ethanol as a reliable alternative to fossil fuels.

The country has already begun blending ethanol with petrol. The Indian government introduced the National Biofuel Policy in 2018, whereby the plan is to achieve ethanol with petrol blend levels of 10 per cent by 2022 and 20 per cent by 2030.

Steps have been taken in that direction, and oil marketing companies have already started placing orders for 2nd-generation ethanol plants. 

The Indian economy is forecasted to grow to $7 trillion by 2030. Therefore, creating an ethanol economy is of enormous value and will significantly boost its domestic economy. 

Brazil:

Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane, and the country began producing ethanol as a fuel in the 1970s. With leaps and bounds, the country has made significant progress toward biofuels. In the early 2000s, the government began promoting vehicles that could run both on petrol & ethanol. About one-third of all vehicles on Brazilian roads run on Ethanol.

EU:

Renewable ethanol is expected to play an important role in the realisation of the EU’s energy and climate ambitions by 2030.

We had a very enlightening conversation with Kishan Karunakaran, the CEO of Buyofuel. The company is a new-age technology startup engaged in creating an ecosystem for the biofuel market. You can read more about the company, biofuels and his thoughts on the potential in the Indian market here.

A glass of sugarcane juice is packed with nutrients and is a superb alternative to aerated drinks.

Similarly, Ethanol produced from sugarcane and other resources is being considered globally as one of the most prominent and possible substitutes for fossil fuels.