Unlike gasoline, pure ethanol is nontoxic and biodegradable, and it quickly breaks down into harmless substances if spilled. Chemical denaturants are added to ethanol to make fuel ethanol, and many of the denaturants are toxic. Similar to gasoline, ethanol is a highly flammable liquid and must be transported carefully. Ethanol and ethanol-gasoline mixtures burn cleaner and have higher octane levels than pure gasoline, but they also have higher evaporative emissions from fuel tanks and dispensing equipment.
These evaporative emissions contribute to the formation of harmful, ground-level ozone and smog. Gasoline requires extra processing to reduce evaporative emissions before blending with ethanol. Source: Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons public domain.
Producing and burning ethanol results in emissions of carbon dioxide CO2 , a greenhouse gas. However, the combustion of ethanol made from biomass such as corn and sugarcane is considered atmospheric carbon neutral because as the biomass grows, it absorbs CO2, which may offset the CO2 produced when the ethanol is burned.
Some ethanol producers burn coal and natural gas for heat sources in the fermentation process to make fuel ethanol, while some burn corn stocks or sugar cane stocks. The effect that increased ethanol use has on net CO2 emissions depends on how ethanol is made and whether or not indirect impacts on land use are included in the calculations.
Growing plants for fuel is a controversial topic because some people believe the land, fertilizers, and energy used to grow biofuel crops should be used to grow food crops instead. The U. If a person comes into contact with pure ethanol, medical attention should be sought.
This includes eye and skin contact. Alcohol, when consumed within a beverage, can also lead to alcohol poisoning, coma and death if too much is ingested. In such cases, medical attention should also be sought immediately. What is another name for ethanol? What type of drug is ethanol?
Why does ethanol burn differently than ethanol and water mixed? Is ethanol an alkene? Is ethanol a sugar? How is ethanol harnessed? What is the ratio of ethanol?
How do you separate ethanol from a mixture of water and ethanol? Is ethanol a mixture? What is 2C2H5oh? Trending Questions. What is the product of 0. Instruments that use a thin skin-like material that is stretched over another object is known as? Still have questions? Find more answers. Previously Viewed. Unanswered Questions. What are the advantage and disadvantages of the bandala system? What letter in the word Wilmington is the same number in the word counting from the beginning as it is in the alphabet?
Ethanol mixes easily with water and many organic compounds, and makes an effective solvent for use in paints, lacquers and varnish, as well as personal care and household cleaning products.
As an additive to cleaning products, ethanol is also used as a preservative because it is effective in knocking out organisms that could pose a danger to consumers. As a food additive, ethanol can help evenly distribute food coloring, as well as enhance the flavor of food extracts.
For example, vanilla extract, a common food flavoring, is made by curing and processing vanilla beans in a solution of ethanol and water. More than 97 percent of U. Ethanol has a higher octane number than gasoline, providing premium blending properties, according to the U. Department of Energy. Minimum octane number requirements prevent engine knocking and maintain drivability.
Ethanol is highly flammable and should not be used near open flames. Ethanol inhalation can cause coughing or headaches, according to the CDC. FDA has labeled ethanol as a Generally Recognized as Safe GRAS substance , which means that a panel of qualified experts determined that ethanol is safe to use in food products.
0コメント