Bioethanol

Bioethanol

Bioethanol - a very special compound

C2H5OH - that is the chemical formula for the compound which is colloquially simply known as "alcohol". To people with an interest in chemistry, it is also known as ethyl alcohol or spirits of wine. The designation bioethanol is derived from the manufacturing process - the fermentation of biomass which contains sugar and starch. 
The greatest part of the ethanol produced worldwide, however, is neither consumed as a beverage, nor used as either medicinal or industrial alcohol (glass cleaner, cleaning agents), but for some years now has ended up in the tanks of internal combustion engines as fuel. In 2007, a total of 62 million m³ of ethanol was produced around the world, eighty per cent of it (49.7 million m³) for fuel. World leader in the production of bioethanol is the USA, closely followed by Brazil.

Bioethanol as an alternative to fossil fuels

There is a lot to be said for bioethanol as an alternative fuel. The following advantages are just some of the aspects.
  • Preservation of fossil resources
    Every single litre of bioethanol produced from regenerative raw materials means the preservation of finite sources of energy such as petrol or diesel fuel. 
  • Secure supply with high-quality fuel from domestic raw materials
    This important advantage of bioethanol is continually gaining in emphasis. Whether either because of political tensions, but also because or of developments in the oil markets: the reserves of numerous "reliable" oil-producing countries - e.g. EU member states - are dwindling and demand has increasingly to be met from politically less stable regions. It is also to be expected that crude oil exploitation will in the future become an even more difficult and costly process. 
  • Climate protection
    Renewable energy sources such as bioethanol mean that less greenhouse gases are produced. Apart from the energy needed to manufacture it, bioethanol, produced from regenerative raw materials, is CO2-neutral. The CO2 released when bioethanol is burned was originally absorbed by the plants from which it is manufactured as they grew by the process of photosynthesis.
Kreislauf
  • Creation of a new branch of industry and strengthening of rural areas
    The German economy and the public purse will also benefit from the creation of a new domestic bioethanol industry with an increased production value, new jobs and enhanced tax receipts. For agriculture, there will be new sales opportunities as well. 
  • Advantages compared with conventional fuels
    Bioethanol scores here thanks to its beneficial chemical properties. It has a considerably higher octane rating than petrol, is virtually free of sulphur and is biologically degradable.

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