Why Ethanol use is increasing worldwide

The addition (blending) of ethanol in hydrocarbon fuels used for combustion engines is becoming more common and its % is being increased. eg. Europe and India’s E10 gasoline is now a blend of 10% anhydrous ethanol. By 2025/26, India is looking to deploy E20.

What is ethanol ?

  • Ethanol is an ethyl alcohol made from the fermentation of various plant materials, collectively known as “biomass” and when used in fuels, is known as a “biofuel”.
  • There are a number of types of ethanol, but the two most important classifications so far as using as a biofuel, is either ‘anhydrous ethanol’ and ‘hydrous ethanol’
  • Anhydrous ethanol is free or almost free of water with an acceptable tolerance smaller than 1%. Hydrous ethanol can contain as high as 8% water.

Advantages (not in order of value).

  • Petrol & diesel blended with ethanol can reduce CO2 pollution emissions by 30% or more.
  • Ethanol blended gasoline and diesel fuels serve as effective cleansing agents for combustion engines.
  • Ethanol as a fuel source is renewable and can be domestically produced (biomass) with fewer greenhouse gas emissions than non-renewable sources of energy like oil and gas.
  • Biomass crops that can be grown year after year, making it a more sustainable fuel source in the long run.
  • Ethanol is biodegradable, so will not permanently harm the environment if it spills or leaks.
  • Ethanol can be produced domestically and locally, unlike oil & gas that for most countries has to be imported.
  • Ethanol used as a fuel source, produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than non-renewable sources of energy. Because the carbon dioxide that is released during the combustion of ethanol is absorbed by the crops that are used to produce it. This can create a ‘closed carbon cycle’, which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
  • Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, meaning it produces fewer harmful environmental pollutants.

Disadvantages (not in order of impact)

  • The dangers of ‘phase separation’ whereby the gasoline and ethanol (and any water) becomes separate layers. There is a limit to the % of ethanol that can be blended without having to redesign or modify engines for the purpose. In the event of phase separation causing pure ethanol to be injected into the engine, significant damage will most likely occur. In order to mitigate this possibility, the engines materials would have to be upgraded. Phase separation will also most likely cause a problem with the engine’s air/fuel mixture.
  • Pure ethanol is not as energy dense as gasoline, containing only circa 70% of the energy of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline, resulting is reduced milage.
  • Ethanol is far more hygroscopic than gasoline and will therefore attract any water content. This can lead to phase separation between the gasoline and the ethanol/water, which can be catastrophic. eg. resulting in storage problems, fuel degradation and serious engine damage, such as corrosion to some parts of the engine and fuel system. Such as rubber fuel lines and seals, gaskets, plastics and even some metals are vulnerable to the corrosive potential of ethanol.
  • Ethanol fuel is also associated with microbial contamination eg. diesel bug. Acetobacter bacteria is often found in ethanol fuel and produces acetic acid in the fuel system. More regular maintenance checks are therefore required to ensure engines are not being damaged by ethanol fuel or any of its components. Also tank monitoring is advised since ethanol can draw in moisture from the atmosphere.
  • While Ethanol production costs have decreased over the years, significant investment in infrastructure and technology is still required.
  • Ethanol production requires large amounts of water, which can be a diminishing resource in many territories.
  • The production of ethanol can have other secondary environmental issues. While ethanol itself is biodegradable, its production processes can be harmful to the environment. The crops that are used to produce ethanol require fertilizers and pesticides, which can harm the soil and nearby waterways.
  • It is argued that crops used to produce ethanol reduce the capacity to grow food crops.

Focus of FORTecx R&D

To further improve the performance and economy of its current fuel additives, so as to further increase stability ie. further reduce the likelihood of any phase separation occurring, based on:

  • increasing amounts up to 20% of ethanol blended in the fuel
  • increasing tolerance for higher percentages of water in the fuel
  • maintaining stability at ever lowering ambient temporatures, from 40°C down to freezing

(Videos of full procedures to be published soon).

IP& Patents

FORTecx already has confidential proprietary chemical formulas and processes, the scope of which are being expanded and perfected. New extensive patents will be applied for in the coming months.