ETHANOL

WHAT IS ETHANOL AND HOW IT WORKS
Ethanol also known as, ethyl alcohol, drinking alcohol or grain alcohol, is a flammable, colorless chemical compound, and is best known as the alcohol found in thermometers and alcoholic beverages. In common usage, it is often referred to simply as alcohol. It is a straight-chain alcohol and its molecular formula is variously represented as EtOH, CH₃CH₂OH, C₂H₅OH or as its empirical formula C₂H₆O (which it shares with dimethyl ether).

After the use of fire, fermentation of sugar into ethanol is perhaps the earliest organic reaction known to humanity, and the intoxicating effects of ethanol consumption have been known since ancient times. In modern times ethanol intended for industrial use has also been produced from byproducts of petroleum refining.

Ethanol has widespread use as a solvent for substances intended for human contact or consumption, including scents, flavorings, colourings, and medicines. In chemistry it is both an essential solvent and a feedstock for the synthesis of other products. Ethanol has a long history as a fuel
What is Bio Ethanol?
The principle fuel used as a petrol substitute for road transport vehicles is bio ethanol.
Ethanol or ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) is a clear colourless liquid, it is biodegradable, low in toxicity and causes little environmental pollution if spilt. Ethanol burns to produce carbon dioxide and water. Ethanol is a high-octane fuel and has replaced lead as an octane enhancer in petrol. By blending ethanol with petrol we can also oxygenate the fuel mixture so it burns more completely and reduces polluting emissions. Ethanol fuel blends are widely sold in the United States and are becoming available here now. However, only flexible fuel vehicles or vehicles with one of our converters can run on 85% ethanol and 15% petrol blends (E85) which is the most common blend.

Properties
Molecular formula	C2H5OH
Molar mass	46.06844(232) g/mol
Appearance	colorless clear liquid
Density	0.789 g/cm³, liquid
Melting point	−114.3 °C (158.8 K)
Boiling point	78.4 °C (351.6 K)
Solubility in water	Fully miscible
Acidity (pKa)	15.9 (H+ from OH group)
Viscosity	1.200 mPa·s (cP) at 20.0 °C
Dipole moment	5.64 fC·fm (1.69 D) (gas)

What is its History?
The use of ethanol in engines is not a new idea. In 1908, the Ford Model T was introduced and could run on ethanol or petrol. The difference in cost between the two fuels was what killed off the use of ethanol at that time.
But now, rising energy prices and environmental problems have led to increased interest in ethanol as a fuel. Ethanol has been used as a fuel in other points in history but fossil fuels have become the dominant energy resource for the modern world. Much attention has been placed on the prospects of using ethanol as fuel for cars.
How is it Produced?
Basic steps for dry mill production of ethanol are: refining into starch, liquification and saccharification (Starch to sugar), fermentation (Sugar to alcohol), distillation, dehydration, and denaturing (optional).
Many crops that are grown can be used for the process and include; corn, maize and wheat crops, waste straw, willow and popular trees, sawdust, reed canary grass, cord grasses, Jerusalem artichoke, myscanthus and sorghum plants.

EXAMPLE
FORD REFLEX HUMMER hx