Ethyl alcohol or commonly known as ETHANOL is derived from sugarcane, grapes and other fruits which has high sugar content. The liquid is extracted by pressing and collected in jars or other vessel. Yeast is added to ferment the sugar from the liquidand is covered to prevent dust from contaminating the liquid and also to avoid Acetobacter which attacks the alcohol and turn it into sugar. Ethanol has been widely used as solvent for products such as lacquers, paints, varnishes, glues, pharmaceuticals, explosives.
Methyl alcohol a.k.a. METHANOL is a wood alcohol. It is the product of destructive distillation of wood, but today it can be produced synthetically. Methanol has been used in manufacturing as solvent for fats, oils, resins, cellulose nitrate and also in the manufacture of dyes, methanol, antifreeze solutions, special fuels, plastics.
Just recently, alcohol has been seen as a promising alternative fuel in the future. It could be used to replace gasoline as fuel with only minor conversion of the carburator. Some countries like Brazil, Japan and Germany has already taken steps in using alcohol as an alternative
fuel for thier cars.
fuel for thier cars.
In Brazil, sugane farmers has benefited in the alchol production of the country. Approximately 60% cars and vehicles in Brazil has beed converted and used alcohol as fuel and even airplanes. Brazil is the leading producer and exporter of alcohol to Japan and Germany which has also joined the bandwagon for a clean and green fuel.
The future of alcohol as an alternative to gasoline is inevitable. I couldn't say that it could replace gasoline in a decade, but for sure alcohol fuel is to stay.
2 comments:
Its true that alcohol is a good alternative to gasoline.. some european countries are having cars run on alcohol.. but the number is not significant enough.
There factors that has to be solved . First alcohol is not in mass production for world market, and modification kits are somewhat costly to consumers.
Except there is no shortage of gasoline and the production of ethanol produces more pollution than it saves. Catch 22.
Also, I myself am looking into alternative fuels but as in DOING something rather than whining about someone else doing it as much of the hype supporting Ethanol, etc is.
What they DON'T tell you is there has been much MUCH environmental damage in Brazil as a result of this. It wasn't about pollution as much as it was about politics. As is most "environmental" causes.
Unfortunately, most people just don't care. Or at least other than preaching what the bag of wind Gore says don't. If it takes actual effort. People won't do a thing. Sad but true.
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