What year was ethanol first used as a fuel?
In 1826 Samuel Morey experimented with an internal combustion chemical mixture that used ethanol (combined with turpentine and ambient air then vaporized) as fuel. At the time, his discovery was overlooked, mostly due to the success of steam power.
What gas is given off when you burn ethanol?
Yes, ethanol biofuel fireplaces are safe to burn indoors. Reading through the scientific jargon, ethanol fireplaces do in fact produce C02 but this is a byproduct of ANY real fire. Fire needs oxygen to burn, and this is just the same with an ethanol fueled fire.
What gasoline has no ethanol?
Ethanol-free gas is not as easy to find as E10 or E15. Most gas stations will make it a priority to have ethanol-based gasoline. Those that decide to switch to non-ethanol gas may have to go out of there way to find it. A lack of availability and the possible inconvenience is why many drivers find it challenging to commit to using ethanol-free gas.
When was ethanol first used to fuel cars?
In 1908, Ford Motor Company's first car, The Model T, used ethanol corn alcohol gasoline as fuel energy. Since 2003, ethanol has grown rapidly as the oxygenating factor for gasoline. Ethanol replaced MTBE for oxygenating fuel, since almost all states now have banned MTBE, due to groundwater contamination, health and environmental concerns.
Why did they start adding ethanol to gasoline?
Why is ethanol in our gas? Fuel ethanol is used to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. To put that simply, higher octane gas resists detonation, so it burns rather than exploding. But raising the octane level of gasoline is expensive; that's why premium fuel costs more than regular.
When did ethanol become mandatory?
2005Congress enacted the ethanol mandates (RFS) in 2005 and then aggressively expanded them in 2007 with the hopes that turning corn into fuel, in place of regular gasoline, would expand the nation's renewable fuels sector, help the environment, and reduce reliance on imported oil.
What was in gas before ethanol?
Before ethanol was blended with gasoline, the United States used a fuel additive called MTBE to oxygenate the fuel, which improves combustion efficiency and reduces air emissions.
What year cars can use ethanol gas?
E15, often sold at the pump as Unleaded 88, for its octane rating, can safely be used in all cars, trucks and SUVs from 2001 on. Those model years represent more than 90% of vehicles on U.S. roads. The ethanol industry says the fuel is one of the most tested in history and has no effect on vehicle drivability.
Is 10 year old gas still good?
Degradation occurs from the get-go but most gas stays fresh for a month or two without issue. However, gas that is more than two month old is generally OK to use with only minor decreases in performance. Gas that is older than a year can cause issues, like engine knocking, sputtering and clogged injectors.
When did leaded gas go away?
January 1, 1996Unleaded gasoline was introduced in the 1970s when health problems from lead became apparent. In the United States, leaded gasoline for use in on-road vehicles was completely phased out as of January 1, 1996. Most other countries have also stopped using leaded gasoline in vehicles.
What was the octane of gas in 1970?
Supporting InformationYearAverage Compression Ratio for New Light VehiclesAverage Octane Rating (AKI)19679.2689.7719689.4389.8419699.4890.0219709.5290.0543 more rows•Aug 29, 2016
Where is leaded gasoline still used?
The reasons behind the ban of leaded gasoline are the health effects of lead and its polluting effect on the environment. The majority of the countries have embraced the ban, but some countries still use leaded gasoline. These countries are Algeria, Iraq, Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, and Afghanistan.
Can ethanol damage your engine?
Since the ethanol is hygroscopic, it absorbs water from the air, causing the fuel blend to separate. Ethanol can be extremely damaging to small engines and high-powered sports equipment, leading to corrosion of the engine and fuel system.
Does ethanol damage older engines?
Fuels containing ethanol produce over 30% less power than older types of petrol, so the performance of older cars not built to work with this kind of fuel can suffer. Ethanol is a powerful solvent and can corrode materials like rubber and fibreglass, both of which are often found on classics.
What does ethanol gas do to older engines?
Older vehicles generally aren't driven much, increasing the possibility that the fuel can draw moisture as it sits in the tank and lines, which in turn can lead to rust. They may also have cork gaskets or fuel floats, which Fawcett says can be damaged by ethanol, or rubber seals that aren't compatible.
Is non-ethanol gas better for older cars?
If moist air gets into the tank, the ethanol will absorb the water and can lead to running problems and rust. Ethanol can also corrode fiberglass and rubber, often found in classic cars. To keep your classic car in great shape, we recommend filling it with non-ethanol gas.
How much energy is needed to make ethanol?
The energy economics get worse at the processing plants, where the grain is crushed and fermented. As many as three distillation steps are needed to separate the 8 percent ethanol from the 92 percent water. Additional treatment and energy are required to produce the 99.8 percent pure ethanol for mixing with gasoline. Adding up the energy costs of corn production and its conversion to ethanol, 131,000 BTUs are needed to make 1 gallon of ethanol. One gallon of ethanol has an energy value of only 77,000 BTU. "Put another way," Pimentel says, "about 70 percent more energy is required to produce ethanol than the energy that actually is in ethanol. Every time you make 1 gallon of ethanol, there is a net energy loss of 54,000 BTU."
How much ethanol is produced from corn?
An acre of U.S. corn yields about 7,110 pounds of corn for processing into 328 gallons of ethanol. But planting, growing and harvesting that much corn requires about 140 gallons of fossil fuels and costs $347 per acre, according to Pimentel's analysis. Thus, even before corn is converted to ethanol, the feedstock costs $1.05 per gallon of ethanol.
What is Standar oil?
The Standar Oil company began using denatured et hanol as a fuel additive as an oxygenate and octane booster during the 1920’s. During WWII, ethanol was used to supplement domestic gasoline supplies as most gasoline was reserved for war use. Standard Oil continued to use ethanol in the form of ETBE (Ethyl Tert Butyl Ether) until less expensive methanol derived MTBE (Methyl Tert Butyl Ether) was synthesized in the late 40’s. In the 1980’s, MTBE was phased out due to ground water contamination, ETBE and later denatured ethanol was added as an oxygenate and octane booster. In 1988, Colorado was th
Why is MTBE added to gasoline?
Oxygenates were added to fuel after the EPA banned lead from gasoline .
What happens when gasoline burns in a stoichiometric environment?
If the mixture is slightly oxygen starved then you start to see CO instead of CO2. Carbon monoxide is really nasty stuff. It attaches to oxygen sites in your blood, but your body can’t extract the oxygen and you die without the distress of suffocation. It also is flammable. In addition to CO, an oxygen-starved oxidation process can convert nitrogen and sulfur in the process in to oxides that are acidic and
Is ethanol an oxygenate?
The short answer to your question is that there are benefits to adding oxygenates to fuel, and ethanol is an oxygenate . On the other hand, the production and use of ethanol does not stand up to any cost/benefit analysis that can be applied (and we don’t have much research into alternatives since the law says the ethanol is the thing).
Is E10 ethanol good for cars?
So clearly, with current prices and technologies, E10 is the most economical way to go. Be aware though, that not all cars tolerate ethanol. It can erode rubber components in your fuel system.
When was ethanol first used in gasoline?
The first ethanol blended with gasoline for use as an octane booster occurred in the 1920s and 1930s, and was in high demand during World War II because of fuel shortages. Click to see full answer. Just so, what year was ethanol added to gas?
Which states require ethanol to be blended with fuel?
Only seven states--Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington--have mandates that require ethanol to be blended with the fuel supply.
Is ethanol better than gasoline?
Ethanol is a cleaner fuel than gasoline, and it helps reduce emissions when mixed with gasoline. Plus the plant products used to make ethanol absorb some carbon dioxide as they grow. Gasoline with 10 percent ethanol yields about 3 percent less fuel economy than straight gas. What states have ethanol gas?
Why is ethanol in our gas?
Fuel ethanol is used to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. To put that simply, higher octane gas resists detonation, so it burns rather than exploding. But raising the octane level of gasoline is expensive; that’s why premium fuel costs more than regular. Adding ethanol reduces the tendency of low-grade gasoline to detonate, enabling our national fleet to run on crappier gas.
Where is ethanol made?
Ethanol is generally made from corn, crop waste, wood chips, or sugarcane. Much of the biomass used to make ethanol is grown in politically important states. Iowa, for example, can trace $5 billion in the state’s economy and 47,000 jobs directly to corn-based ethanol.
What is E85 fuel?
In addition to use as a gasoline additive, fuel ethanol forms the bulk of E85, also known as flex-fuel. E85 is an alternative fuel supported by many automakers on a wide range of cars. E85, as the name suggests, is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petroleum and other products. Most E85-capable vehicles can also run on standard petroleum fuel.
Why do you need a vapor seal on a fuel pump?
Ethanol also wants to evaporate more than gasoline, and fuel evaporation is a major source of air pollution, so you need those spring-loaded vapor seals on fuel pumps and similar gear at the refining and distribution centers to keep ethanol in the fuel.
Why did the Model T run on moonshine?
He did this because gasoline was not commonly available everywhere in 1908, and farmers could produce ethanol very cheaply and use it to fuel their vehicles – essentially, you could run your Model T on moonshine. Ethanol also made a comeback as fuel during WWII when gasoline was strictly rationed.
How much ethanol is in gasoline?
Today, 97 percent of gasoline sold in America has ethanol in it. The exact amount of ethanol in the mix varies from state to state, however, and in some states, you can find ethanol-free premium gas if you look for it. But in general, you can expect that gasoline sold in the United States has around 10 percent ethanol in it.
Where is ethanol exported?
Most exported ethanol goes to Brazil, Canada, China, India, and South Korea.
When was ethanol first used?
The Energy Information Agency (2005) describes the history of ethanol. Ethanol’s first use was to power an engine in 1826, and in 1876, Nicolaus Otto, the inventor of the modern four-cycle internal combustion engine, used ethanol to power an early engine. Ethanol also was used as a lighting fuel in the 1850s, but its use curtailed when it was taxed as liquor to help pay for the Civil War. Ethanol use as a fuel continued after the tax was repealed, and fueled Henry Ford’s Model T in 1908. The first ethanol blended with gasoline for use as an octane booster occurred in the 1920s and 1930s, and was in high demand during World War II because of fuel shortages.
When was ethanol used as a fuel?
Ethanol also was used as a lighting fuel in the 1850s, but its use curtailed when it was taxed as liquor to help pay for the Civil War. Ethanol use as a fuel continued after the tax was repealed, and fueled Henry Ford’s Model T in 1908.
How much ethanol should be produced from corn?
The new RFS which currently guides national ethanol policy states that only 15 billion gallons of production should be produced from corn grain (starch) —the remaining 22 billion should come from other advanced and cellulosic feedstock sources.
What is MTBE in ethanol?
With the phasing out of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) as an oxygenate and a desire to decrease dependence on imported oil and increase the use of environmentally friendly fuels, ethanol’s demand increased dramatically. In 2005, the first Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) became law as part of the United States’ energy policy ...
Why is corn used as a feedstock for ethanol?
Corn became the predominant feedstock for ethanol production because of its abundance and ease of transformation into alcohol. Federal and state subsidies for ethanol helped keep the fuel in production when ethanol prices fell with crude oil and gasoline prices in the early 1980s.
How many gallons of fuel will be used in 2022?
Since that time, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 signed by President Bush requires renewable fuel usage to increase to 36 billion gallons annually by 2022 (Renewable Fuels Association, 2008b).
When did ethanol start to be used in gasoline?
Gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol began a decades-long growth in the United States in the late 1970s. The demand for ethanol produced from field corn was spurred by the discovery that methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was contaminating groundwater.
When was ethanol discovered?
At the time, his discovery was overlooked, mostly due to the success of steam power. Ethanol fuel received little attention until 1860 when Nicholas Otto began experimenting with internal combustion engines. In 1859, oil was found in Pennsylvania, which decades later provided a new kind of fuel.
How many E85 flex fuel cars were made in 2013?
By early 2013, about 11 million E85 flex-fuel cars and light trucks were in operation, though actual use of E85 fuel was limited, because the ethanol fueling infrastructure was limited. As of 2005, 68% of American flex-fuel car owners were not aware they owned an E85 flex. Flex and non-flex vehicles looked the same.
What percentage of ethanol is used in a car?
Flexible-fuel cars, trucks, and minivans use gasoline/ethanol blends ranging from pure gasoline up to 85% ethanol ( E85 ).
How many gallons of E85 were used in 2009?
As a result, only 712 million gallons were used for E85, representing just 1% of that year's ethanol consumption.
What is the largest producer of ethanol?
The United States became the world's largest producer of ethanol fuel in 2005. The U.S. produced 15.8 billion U.S. liquid gallons of ethanol fuel in 2019, and 13.9 billion U.S. liquid gallons (52.6 billion liters) in 2011, an increase from 13.2 billion U.S. liquid gallons (49.2 billion liters) in 2010, and up from 1.63 billion gallons in 2000. Brazil and U.S. production accounted for 87.1% of global production in 2011. In the U.S, ethanol fuel is mainly used as an oxygenate in gasoline in the form of low-level blends up to 10 percent, and to an increasing extent, as E85 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles.
What is the ethanol content on gas pumps?
Typical label at the gas pumps warning drivers of ethanol content up to 10%, used as oxygenate additive instead of MTBE. Miami, Florida.
How does E10 affect fuel?
CONFIRMED. The damage done to engines by E10 was best summarized by Russell T. Spears of Laguna Niguel, California in a letter to the editor published by the Orange County Register on Jan. 18, 2013. Spears wrote that independent mechanics he talked to confirmed “that even 10 percent alcohol is causing much damage to automobile engines and fuel systems. The fuel pumps fail from corrosion and can stop a car on a busy freeway. This is very dangerous. Fuel pumps are inside the fuel tank on most cars now, and it is very expensive to have the tank removed and opened to take out the fuel pump. Alcohol makes the engines run hotter and it wears them out sooner. Alcohol also damages the valves requiring more expensive repairs. Ethanol has less energy than gasoline so cars get worse mileage when it is mixed with gasoline.”
When was the E15 approved?
The EPA approved the sale of E15 in June 2012 despite the failure to complete tests it had outlined in 2008 to approve the waiver allowing E15 and despite AAA’s estimate that only 5 percent of cars on the road in the United States can use E15 without risk of damage.
Why did the EPA oppose E15?
Their primary reason for opposing E15 was based on the harmful effects of E10 which is common in the United States.
Why is E15 against E10?
Bioethanol is light alcohol produced by fermenting starch or sugar from sugar cane, corn, cassava or nipa. Alcohol is corrosive and attracts moisture, properties that can threaten mechanical parts.
When did the E10 mandate come into effect?
Republic Act 9637, stipulated that within four years after the law took effect on Feb. 6, 2007, the ethanol blend should increase from 5 to 10 percent. So those of us with gasoline-fed vehicles should have been getting E10 as far back as 2011. Should we be thankful that it was delayed?
Can you use E85 in Brazil?
Kaplan also said that a much higher blend of ethanol in gasoline has been used in Brazil for a long time without problems with flex-fuel cars able to safely use E85. Kaplan conveniently forgot that flex-fuel vehicles can use up to 85 percent ethanol as they are designed to tolerate the more corrosive ethanol, including changes to fuel pumps, fuel tanks, fuel injectors, engines, control systems, various calibration capacities, emissions systems and materials used.
Does alcohol damage fuel pump?
Alcohol makes the engines run hotter and it wears them out sooner. Alcohol also damages the valves requiring more expensive repairs.
Why Is Ethanol in Fuel an Issue Now?
The calendar on the wall says that winter is getting closer by the day , meaning many classics will soon begin hibernating for a few.
Why was ethanol used in the midwest?
Ethanol was used to promote corn sales in the midwest. It's political!
What is ethanol used for?
Today, ethanol is used to elevate the octane of pump fuel. The 87- and 93-octane grades regularly found at the pump, Santner explains, leave the pipelines with 83 and 90 octane ratings, respectively; it’s that 10% or so of ethanol added at the distribution terminals that increases the octane to its final values.
What is MTBE in gasoline?
To further help reduce smog, in the ’80s an oxygenate called methyl tert-butyl ether, also known as MTBE, was added to gasoline. Small problem with MTBE: As noted by Zachary J. Santner, technical specialist at Sunoco Race Fuels, MTBE has a “low threshold to be detected by nose and taste.”.
How much energy does it take to make corn grain alcohol?
For our common auto gas, it takes one unit of energy to make eight units comong from the ground to the pump. For corn grain alcohol it takes seven units of energy to make eight . I understand that this is because of the enrgy needed to make nitorgen fertilizer and for the traveling by truck to move all the components needed to make and produce alcohol.
Why was lead added to gasoline?
Back in olden times–up until the ’70s–lead was added to gasoline to increase its resistance to knock. This tetraethyllead was found to cause smog and other issues, however, so it was eventually banned from pump gasoline. To further help reduce smog, in the ’80s an oxygenate called methyl tert-butyl ether, also known as MTBE, was added to gasoline.
Is methanol stronger than ethanol?
They used to use 100% methanol which is slightly more powerful. But that stuff is nasty deadly. Get it on your skin it and attacks internal organs. Breath it and it attacks your lungs. Ethanol on the other hand is what's in beer, wine and booze. Drink ethanol and you get happy.
