Difference between revisions of "Ethanol"
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| − | '''Ethanol''' is [[biofuel]] made from [[alcohol]] and is an [[oxygenate]] that is added to [[gasoline]] to increase the [[octane]] rating. The product is produced through the [[fermentation]] of [[corn]], or other cellulosic material. | + | '''Ethanol''', also known as [[grain alcohol]] is a flammable [[chemical compound]] with a strong [[odor]], and is the [[alcohol]] found in [[alcoholic beverage]]s. In common usage, it is often referred to simply as ''alcohol''. The chemical formula is variously represented as EtOH, CH<sub>3</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>OH, C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH. |
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| + | Ethanol is also a [[biofuel]] made from [[alcohol]] and is an [[oxygenate]] that is added to [[gasoline]] to increase the [[octane]] rating. The product is produced through the [[fermentation]] of [[corn]], or other cellulosic material. | ||
==Process== | ==Process== | ||
Revision as of 20:07, April 5, 2007
Ethanol, also known as grain alcohol is a flammable chemical compound with a strong odor, and is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. In common usage, it is often referred to simply as alcohol. The chemical formula is variously represented as EtOH, CH3CH2OH, C2H5OH.
Ethanol is also a biofuel made from alcohol and is an oxygenate that is added to gasoline to increase the octane rating. The product is produced through the fermentation of corn, or other cellulosic material.
Process
Co-products
A co-product of the fermentation process is distillers grains which can be used as cattle feed. Distillers grains is termed either wet distillers grains or dried distillers grains or simply DDGs. Wet distillers grains have a very short shelf life as they are susceptible to microorganisms that can pollute the material and render it unfit for cattle consumption.
Ethanol Industry
In the United States ethanol is most commonly made through the fermentation of corn. Other countries, such as Brazil use sugar as a catalyst for the fermenting process. Currently, the US has the highest production numbers for ethanol in the world, but some analysts forecast China as being a potential world player in the ethanol market. China currently uses casava and wheat among other material for producing ethanol.