What is Fuel-Ethanol?
Ethanol (Ethyl alcohol) used as an additive to fuel, by blending with petrol, for motor vehicle is called fuel-ethanol. Fuel ethanol can be used as an oxygenate in petrol. It reduces emission of carbon monoxide by taking combustion to completion. It replaces oxygenates like tetraethyl lead which leads to poisonous lead-fumes polluting the atmosphere. It is also a replacement for other oxygenates like MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) and ETBE (ethyl tert-butyl ether) – which can cause surface water pollution. It maintains the ‘carbon cycle’ of nature, reducing the ‘greenhouse effect’. It is made from renewable sources of material like agricultural products and prevents depletion of limited and precious resources like fossil fuels. It employs renewable source of energy like solar energy through a natural route. It is a material readily available within our country and need not be imported from outside. Ethanol could be blended in various proportions in petrol. Ethanol is usually added 5 to
