Over the past decade, the governments of many countries around the globe are striving hard to lay as much stress as they can on reducing fuel emissions. The carbon footprint is a proven threat to the entire planet and in a bid to reduce it; people from all segments of society have started looking for ways to control the impact of the carbon footprint on the environment. It is due to such a situation that fuel ethanol production around the globe is increasing with each passing year.
However, those willing to adopt a different type of fuel are very apprehensive and curious about ethanol produced by the top fuel ethanol manufacturers in India. Many of them want to know what exactly ethanol fuel is and to what extent it can dent human lives and pockets as well. Keeping in view the same, this blog sheds light on some of the most important aspects associated with ethanol in the following points:
What is ethanol?
Made of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, ethanol is liquid alcohol obtained from the fermentation of converted starch that different types of grains and other agri-forest feedstock contain. As of now, the production of ethanol is done for a large number of applications. The relevance of non-food sources as the raw material to produce fuel-grade ethanol is advancing at a rapid pace and is considered to be close to commercialization.
Ethanol can be produced from a large number of feedstock. Some of them include the following:
● Sugar cane
● Bagasse
● Miscanthus
● Sugar beet
● Sorghum
● Grains
● Switchgrass
● Barley
● Hemp
● Kenaf
● Potatoes, and sweet potatoes
● Cassava
● Sunflower
● Fruit
● Molasses
● Corn
● Stover
● Wheat
● Straw, and
The raw material or sources to produce ethanol might differ from country to country as per the availability. In a country like Canada, ethanol is produced mainly from corn and wheat. Ethanol is blended with gasoline to come up with a unique fuel that benefits the environment and can be used in almost all types of vehicles manufactured after the 1980s.
Some unique facts associated with ethanol as a fuel
● With a 113 octane rating, ethanol is considered to be a very high-performance fuel that can run all types of high-compression vehicle engines effectively, efficiently, and smoothly.
● Since ethanol is obtained from plant-based sources that harness the energy of the sunlight, it has the value of being a renewable fuel.
● Because the molecules of ethanol contain oxygen, it lets the engine combust the fuel more effectively, and as result, the process releases limited emissions.
● Ethanol-blended fuel is well-known to keep the entire fuel mechanism clean for optimal performance. It is because this fuel never leaves any gummy deposits.
● Ethanol helps in the effective prevention of wintertime issues as it acts as a gas-line antifreeze agent.
Advantages at a glance
1. Ethanol fuel is cost-effective in comparison to all other biofuels
Since almost every country can produce ethanol on its own with no dependency on any oil-producing country, ethanol fuel is considered to be the most cost-effective form of fuel in comparison to all other fuels. Sugarcane, corn, and different grains are harvested in almost all countries of the world, and this plausibility makes the production of ethanol extremely cost-effective when compared to all other fossil fuels. Fossil fuels have been found playing against the economies of most countries, particularly the developing ones as they have no infrastructural paraphernalia to explore them. This way, it is always wise for all the growing economies to speed up the production of ethanol to save revenue.
2. Ethanol fuel is ecologically effective
When compared to other conventional fuels, one of the most significant advantages of ethanol fuel is that it is never a threat to the environment concerning pollution. When used in automobiles as the primary fuel source, ethanol produces a very limited amount of toxic gases to leave in the environment even when it is converted into fuel using a gasoline blend in the ratio of 85:15. The gasoline composition in the fuel obtained this way acts as an igniter leaving rests of the tasks for the ethanol. This amazing ratio of ethanol to gasoline brings down a drastic reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases. This is the reason it is ecologically effective burning very cleanly when compared to gasoline in its pure form.
3. Ethanol fuel helps reduce global warming
The burning of fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil is causing tremendous emissions of dangerous greenhouse gases which in turn are resulting in global warming. The world has already witnessed the bad effects of global warming in many forms, and the saga continues. Some of the most visible and catastrophic ones among them include unbearable heat, ever-rising sea levels, and unpredictable weathers. What the combustion of ethanol fuel releases is only water and carbon dioxide. And, when it comes to environmental degradation, the carbon dioxide released remains ineffective.
4. Minimizes dependence on fossil fuels
Obtaining fuel from biomass, corn, and other resources is one of the most cost-effective ways to sustain any economy while preventing it from over-dependency on the import of conventional fossil fuels such as gas, oil, and coal. Adopting ethanol can ensure a lot of savings for any country which they can invest in some other important segments calling for more rejuvenation. Another positive aspect of ethanol is that it can be domestically produced with no dependency on any other country for anything.
All the sources for producing ethanol naturally grow in almost all parts of the world, and to take more yields, the concerned countries can make additional efforts. Ethanol plays a very crucial role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and consequently brings down dependence on foreign oil importation and greenhouse gas emissions. If we try to run vehicles on 100% ethanol, various visible differences will be visible over time.
Concluding Remarks
Dhampur Bio Organics Ltd., demerged from Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd. on the 7th of June 2021 is one of the most prominent fuel ethanol manufacturers in India. The company operates 3 plants in the traditional cane growing belt of western-central Uttar Pradesh, India. More details can be explored right here on the company’s website.