Vivian Marlowe
When alcohol is burned, it releases a lot of energy. This combustion of alcohol, or ethanol, produces carbon dioxide and water. Ethanol is a 2-carbon alcohol with the chemical formula CH3CH2OH, and it is the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks. It is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with a pungent taste and is often used as a motor fuel or biofuel additive for gasoline. Ethanol has been used as a fuel since ancient times, with records of its distillation dating back to the 12th century in Latin works. Today, it is still used as a fuel source, with some car manufacturers opting to use ethanol over hydrogen due to the lower costs of setting up the required fueling infrastructure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| By-products | Carbon dioxide, water vapour, heat, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde |
| Energy efficiency | Ethanol releases 34% less energy per unit volume than gasoline |
| Environmental impact | Ethanol releases less greenhouse gases than gasoline; it is a particulate-free burning fuel source |
| Safety | As safe as burning most other liquid fuels |
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What You'll Learn
- The combustion of alcohol produces carbon dioxide and water
- Ethanol has a burn value of 75% that of gasoline
- Ethanol can be used as a fuel in internal combustion engines
- Ethanol is produced by the fermentation process of sugars by yeasts
- Ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline, making it more efficient
The combustion of alcohol produces carbon dioxide and water
The combustion of ethanol releases a significant amount of energy. This energy release is harnessed in applications such as ethanol rockets, which can even be made using empty plastic soda bottles. The combustion of ethanol is considered a "super clean" process, as it does not produce smoke or soot, unlike the burning of oil products, which generates carbon and smoke.
The byproducts of burning alcohol, specifically carbon dioxide and water, are the same as those produced by the human body when metabolising ethanol. This process occurs in the liver, where enzymes facilitate the breakdown of ethanol. The balanced chemical equation for the combustion of ethanol involves equating the number of carbon atoms in the reactants and products.
It is important to note that the combustion of alcohol can also produce carbon monoxide (CO), particularly in the case of incomplete combustion. This is true for the burning of any carbonaceous fuel, including charcoal, which is a notable exception due to its higher carbon monoxide output. The use of water to extinguish alcohol fires is generally not recommended, as the alcohol may continue to burn on top of the water, potentially leading to a larger fire.
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Ethanol has a burn value of 75% that of gasoline
Ethanol, also known as alcohol, is a fuel source that can be used in vehicles. When burned, ethanol reacts with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide gas and water. This process releases a lot of energy, despite burning slowly.
The Brazilian government has recognized the benefits of ethanol as a fuel source and has made it mandatory to blend ethanol with gasoline since 1976. The current legal blend is around 25% ethanol and 75% gasoline (E25). Brazil has a large number of flex-fuel vehicles that can use ethanol blends up to 85% (E85) or even 100% (E100).
To use ethanol as a fuel, the yeast solids and most of the water must be removed through a process called distillation. This process can achieve a purity of up to 95-96% due to the formation of a water-ethanol azeotrope. This mixture, called hydrous ethanol, can be used as fuel but is not always compatible with gasoline engines. Further treatment is often required to remove the water fraction to allow it to burn in combination with gasoline.
Overall, ethanol is a viable alternative fuel source to gasoline, offering similar performance and contributing to a reduction in gasoline use and CO2 emissions.
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Ethanol can be used as a fuel in internal combustion engines
Ethanol, or C2H5OH, can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines (ICEs). However, for this to be possible, the engines must be designed or modified for that purpose. Anhydrous ethanol, for instance, can be blended with gasoline for use in gasoline engines, but only after engine modifications to meter increased fuel volume. This is because ethanol contains only two-thirds the energy of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline. As a result, a larger volume of ethanol is required to generate the same amount of energy as gasoline. Nevertheless, ethanol is still a viable option as it is usually less expensive than gasoline.
Ethanol is also more environmentally friendly than gasoline, producing fewer greenhouse emissions upon combustion due to more complete combustion, resulting in less toxic gases being emitted. This makes it a popular choice in Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Europe, where ethanol-blended fuel is widely used. In fact, most cars in the United States can run on blends of up to 15% ethanol, and ethanol represented 10% of the country's gasoline fuel supply derived from domestic sources in 2011.
Ethanol is typically made from biomass such as corn or sugarcane, but it can also be produced from other feedstocks such as municipal waste, recycled products, rice hulls, wood chips, and even carbon dioxide. The process of converting ethanol into fuel involves removing yeast solids and most of the water after fermentation. The remaining mash is then heated to evaporate the ethanol, a process known as distillation. However, the purity of the ethanol is limited to 95-96% due to the formation of a water-ethanol azeotrope. This mixture, called hydrous ethanol, can be used as fuel but is not always compatible with gasoline, so further treatment is often necessary.
While ethanol is a promising alternative to gasoline, it has some drawbacks. Firstly, it is less energy-dense than gasoline, with a stored energy value that is approximately 20% lower. Secondly, producing ethanol can be costly, as it requires a large amount of grain and specialized processing facilities. Despite these challenges, the use of ethanol as a fuel offers environmental benefits and contributes to reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.
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Ethanol is produced by the fermentation process of sugars by yeasts
When ethanol (C2H5OH) is burned or combusted in the air, the products obtained are carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and water (H2O). This process releases a lot of energy, and the reaction occurs in one fast, high-temperature reaction.
During fermentation, yeast cells consume sugars derived from cereal grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar. The sugars are broken down through glycolysis, and then pyruvate is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. This process is catalysed by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1) in baker's yeast. Other microorganisms, such as bacteria, can also produce ethanol from sugars, but the pathway is slightly different.
Ethanol fermentation is the oldest known method for producing alcoholic beverages, and it is also used in the production of ethanol fuel and bread dough rising. The dominant feedstock for ethanol production varies by region, with sugarcane being common in warmer regions and corn or sugar beets used in temperate regions. The ethanol produced through fermentation is then distilled to obtain pure ethanol, which can be blended with petrol or used as a fuel.
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Ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline, making it more efficient
When ethanol (C2H5OH) is burned in the presence of oxygen (O2), it produces carbon dioxide gas (CO2) and water (H2O). This combustion releases a lot of energy, and the heat generated is substantial despite the relatively slow burn of ethanol.
Ethanol is often used as a fuel and has a higher octane rating than gasoline. Octane is a measure of a fuel's ability to resist "knocking" or "pinging" during combustion, caused by the air/fuel mixture detonating prematurely in the engine. The higher the ethanol content in a fuel mixture, the higher the octane rating. For example, E15 (15% ethanol) has an octane rating of 88, while E85 (85% ethanol) has a rating of 108. Pure ethanol has an octane rating of 100, and when blended with gasoline, it performs as if its octane rating is 112.
The use of ethanol in gasoline blends offers several advantages. Firstly, ethanol helps to keep cylinder temperatures lower. This is because ethanol has a higher rate of heat of vaporization than gasoline, meaning it pulls more heat from the cylinder while vaporizing. Secondly, ethanol is a cheaper alternative to synthetic aromatics, which are used to increase octane ratings but are harmful to the environment and expensive to produce. By blending gasoline with ethanol, fuel prices can be reduced. Additionally, ethanol is a renewable resource that can be grown and produced year after year, providing a more stable fuel source than non-renewable gasoline.
However, it is important to note that ethanol also has some drawbacks. One potential issue is worse fuel economy, as ethanol is less energy-dense than gasoline. This means that more fuel is required to drive a given distance, which can offset the efficiency gains from higher octane ratings at certain ethanol concentrations. Nevertheless, engines designed and optimized for ethanol fuel have the potential to run at higher efficiencies than those using gasoline.
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Frequently asked questions
The byproducts of burning alcohol are carbon dioxide and water.
Alcohol is comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Ethanol is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CH2OH. It is also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol.
