Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting and distilling starch crops, such as corn. It can also be made from “cellulosic biomass” such as trees and grasses. The use of ethanol can reduce our dependence upon foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As ethanol is available as E85, a high-level ethanol blend, as its a alternative fuel that can be used in flexible fuel vehicles that is a vehicle type that has an internal combustion engine and runs on either E85 or gasoline. With a 113 octane rating, ethanol is the highest performance fuel on the market and keeps today’s high-compression engines running smoothly. Ethanol as a vehicle fuel is not a new concept as Henry Ford and other early automakers, like such, suspected it would be the world’s primary fuel before gasoline became so readily available. Today, researchers around the world agree that ethanol and other biofuels could replace 30% or more of U.S. gasoline demand by the year 2030, as evidence can show that a change in fuels is a necessity to proceed in the coming years as we develop in both technology and industry.
Ethanol can be used for an alternative fuel, in other words, it will be able to replace all kinds of fossil fuels, including those used in industry and especially vehicle use where ethanol can be used instead of gasoline to power the car, as it can be the same convenience of acquiring gasoline at a station. The resource of ethanol can be renewed as it comes from corn, by fermenting and distilling starch crops which actually require less energy to make than the actual energy it carries in the final product, hence, making ethanol an easier way to renew the fuel than it actually seems to be. As for the cost of using this type of resource, it costs ...
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...if one may be at a cross-road to decide, as this in the end can be a solution that can both be helpful to the world and be more convenient for the user. In the end, ethanol is a great idea that can help many in the process, even with so many problems at the time, ethanol, as time goes by, will be able to create solutions as it did when the first idea came to mind in order to help the environment and be easier to the world ahead.
Works Cited
www.ethanoltoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&fid=57&itemid=6 www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ethanol-waste.htm www.consumerenergycenter.org/transportation/afus/ethanol.html www.ethanolrfa.org/pages/ethanol-facts-engine-performance www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethanol_fuel_basics.html
Sherman, Don. E85-Alternative Fuel. February 2009. 11 Nov. 2013
In conclusion, Corn Ethanol Biofuel has many negative and positive effects. It has a negative effect because it releases greenhouse gases but positive effects as well because it is inexpensive to produce and use, and is a renewable source. The future of corn ethanol is uncertain: “Corn-based ethanol will most likely not be the staple fuel source in the future, as it is only a short term solution and poses problems in the long run. Ethanol contains 33% less energy than gasoline, and corrodes engines that it is used in. Average production and final sales are 62 cents/gal higher than conventional gasoline. Even though political support is waning, Congress will most likely not abandon corn ethanol.” ("Future of Corn Ethanol.) I think corn ethanol
With the fuel crisis that is happening in the world today it is now more important than ever to begin the look towards alternative fuel sources. One smart step for the US would be to wean the country slowly off of the gasoline fix and to look into alternative fuels to replace the “never coming back” fossil fuels. It turns out that Ethanol as a hybrid fuel proves to be a notable candidate for this gasoline intervention, per say. Now the United States is currently looking to subsidize fossil fuel alternatives. However, before considering ethanol production as a governmental subsidy, using large amounts of hard earned tax payer money, there has to be many alternative factors that come into play such as making sure the pros out weight the cons as far as environmental benefits and performance output and not to mention looking at the entire matter from an economic or investment perspective. First we need to consider what the ethanol we are talking about actually is and how can we obtain it.
...ble considering the recent trends in productions. Reaching the goal for 21 billion gallons of ethanol was not possible. However, even if 21 billion gallons of ethanol was produced by 2020 it would not be useful because cars are not at the point where a majority of them can run on higher ethanol fuels which would create an unnecessary surplus. Instead waiting a 5 years to create higher demand while giving the starting plants time to settle down and work out the basic problems will allow for the goal to be met in the future. Then by my calculations in 15 years it would be reasonable to meet the goal of 21 billion gallons of ethanol from non-corn based crops. Even after waiting 20 years this mandate is still important because alternative energy would still not have taken over the transportation yet and fuel will still be needed for all of the gasoline powered cars.
Did you know that you can receive a maximum of a $7,500 tax credit for just owning an electric or hybrid vehicle? The United States government values citizens that buy fuel efficient vehicles because it gets the United States one step closer to not buying outsourced oil (Jones par.14). Hybrid vehicles are vehicles that are mostly powered by gasoline, but switch over to electric at stop signs or at coasting speeds. Electric cars are cars that are solely powered by electric from start up to shut down (Motavalli par. 6). Most cars and trucks on the road today are powered by gasoline or diesel engines, which are expensive to operate, bad for the environment, and use resources that are non renewable. To achieve better fuel economy, lower operation cost, reduce the pollution on the environment, and operate vehicles with renewable resources, this world needs to take a better look at using alternative fuels to power vehicles. Alternative fuels for motor vehicles are better for the environment, are renewable resource, and are cheaper for consumers.
The main reason people have not converted to cleaner, healthier fuel is that hybrid and electric cars are more expensive than the cars and gasoline we are using now. However, we could implement a program for selling cleaner fuel at a lower cost than it is now offered. If this program were organized correctly, the increased costs would be minimal in the long run and the benefits would be enormous. After considering several possibilities, I concluded that alcohol-burning cars are more practical than other environmentally friendly options because electric and hybrid cars or cars that run on natural gas are more expensive and are less convenient to refuel.
Ethanol production was developed in hopes of severing our ties with fossil fuels in favor of alternative energy, such as biofuels. Although, VOCs emissions are released during production of ethanol in a factory, the quality of air is greatly improved when burning ethanol versus fossil fuels. Burning ethanol instead of fossil fuels reduces the amount of cancer-causing greenhouse gases that go into the atmosphere. Ethanol production ranks at the bottom of industrial water usage, but is still not out of the woods with the abundance of water usage needed in corn feedstock and ethanol manufacturing and processing facilities. Many acres of land are needed to grow corn crops, however, many corn farmers are successful in growing more corn on less acreage.
Cushman, Lynd, Nichols, Wyman. “Fuel Ethanol from Cellulosic Biomass.” Science. March 1991. Vol 251 (4999):1321
Ethanol is a clear and odorous liquid that affects living organisms by acting as a lipid solvent. If alcohol is consumed in a moderate fashion it can produce a euphoric feeling. Once the level of moderation is broken and access alcohol accumulates in the blood stream the euphoric feeling can dissipate and leave the drinker feeling poorly. One single standard drink is equal to 13.7 grams. Many standard drinks are mixed with sugars, flavoring, and further diluted with water.
Secondly, the use of biofuels is not a cost effective option as they are more expensive than fossil fuels. According to the County Commissions of the US Department of Agriculture and North Dakota State University, there are around seven biodiesel producers in the US. Biodiesel is the mix of biofuel and diesel in 20:80 ratio, which means that the cost of biodiesel will be around 20$ more ...
Ethanol in Gasoline Analysis by Gas Chromatography and Infrared Spectroscopy Introduction: In the constantly developing economy, gasoline has become an important resource used worldwide and in everyday life. Gasoline serves as the main fuel source of both private and industrial vehicles that allow a majority of the world to move from place to place. However, as the demand for gasoline increases, the supply of oil decreases and pure gasoline is hard to come by. On average, the gasoline purchased at a gas station consists of approximately 90% gasoline, composed of hydrocarbons, and 10% ethanol.
...her combination of intoxicant. There are several better plants to use, sugar cane and algae all produce far more ethanol than corn does. Keep in mind that running on electric sometimes is better than running on gas all of the time, But to see for yourself go down to the car dealership and ask for yourself.
Alternative energy does not focus on the burning of fuel, nor the nuclear process. Alternative energy is basically an alternative to fossil fuel. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, or even natural gas. One day coal and oil will eventually run out, and the cost of these are getting more and more expensive by the day. We can reuse alternative energy, but no matter what energy sources we use, there will always be pros and cons.
As more concerns are being raised about the effects of greenhouse gases being produced and put into the atmosphere many different ideas are being looked at. These ideas are looking at reducing the amount of these gases that are put into the atmosphere. Not only is this an idea but researchers are looking for ways to produce a cheaper, but yet more effective alternative. One alternative that they have come up with to an alternative to regular gasoline that will be cheaper to produce as well as lower the amount of emissions that it will produce is Biofuels. Biofuels are, “All biofuels and bio-based products come from “biomass”, a term that covers all living or recently living biological material which can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Examples include wood, corn, sugarcane, and manure.’’(eartheasy) Biofuels can be a major source of fuel in the future.
Fuel alternatives for the future are very important because, we need resources for life. We won’t have fossil fuels forever. It is important to start now. If we did not have any fuel alternatives how would the world be?
When people think about alcohol, they think about a strong colorless volatile flammable liquid that is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks. I strongly oppose the use of this beverage because this can be a very dangerous beverage to teenagers and adults. Alcohol has caused a lot of problems in the economy, and if people continue to misuse alcohol the number of deaths from alcohol will increase instead of decreasing. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics in 2011, the amount of 9,878 people died in drunk driving crashes, one every 53 minutes. Alcohol should be banned because alcohol is a really dangerous beverage which has brought a lot of sorrow and tragic stories to a lot of people’s lives and families, through driving, partying and making bad decisions.