Ethanol: Understanding Renewable Fuel Options

Bioethanol: This is ethanol produced from biological materials such as crops (e.g., corn, cassava, sugarcane) or cellulosic biomass (e.g., wood, grasses). It is the most common form of ethanol used in fuel applications.

E100: Pure ethanol containing 100% ethanol. It is primarily used in specialised vehicles, especially in Brazil, where ethanol fuel is widely adopted.

E85: A high-level ethanol-petrol blend consisting of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. It is used in flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are designed to operate on varying ethanol concentrations.

E10: A low-level ethanol-petrol blend containing 10% ethanol and 90% petrol. This blend is commonly used in regular vehicles and helps to reduce emissions and improve octane ratings.

E5: Another low-level ethanol-petrol blend with 5% ethanol and 95% petrol, also commonly used in regular vehicles.

Fermentation: The biochemical process where sugars are converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide by the action of yeast or bacteria. This is the initial step in producing ethanol from biological feedstocks.

Distillation: The process of purifying ethanol by heating a liquid mixture to create vapour and then condensing the vapour back into liquid. This step is essential to achieve the desired ethanol purity.

Denatured Ethanol: Ethanol that has been mixed with small amounts of toxic substances, usually petrol, to make it unfit for human consumption. It is used for industrial purposes, such as blending with fuel for combustion engines.

Feedstock: The raw material used to produce ethanol. Common feedstocks include corn, cassava, sugarcane, and cellulosic biomass.

Blending: The process of mixing ethanol with petrol to produce ethanol-blended fuels like E5, E10, E15, or E85.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Ethanol production and use generally result in lower GHG emissions compared to fossil fuels, thanks to its renewable nature.

Ethanol Fuel Standard: Specifications set by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) that ethanol-petrol blends must meet to ensure quality and performance.

Octane Rating and RON (Research Octane Number): Measures of a fuel’s ability to resist knocking during combustion. Ethanol has a higher octane rating and RON compared to petrol, which can improve engine performance and efficiency.

Co-Products: During ethanol production, additional products such as animal feed are generated, contributing to the overall sustainability and economic viability of the process.