[Raptor235]

Over the last few years more and more alternatives for petrol have been sought. As oil reserves run out, petrol prices rise and the climate continues to change, people are increasingly looking towards ethanol fuel as a potential solution to all of these problems.

Ethanol is more commonly known as the alcohol found in alcoholic drinks. It is a colourless and flammable liquid (at room temperature and pressure); it is its flammable nature that makes it useful as a fuel.

Production

The vast majority of ethanol that is used for drinking and in fuels is produced by the fermentation of sugars. This is where certain species of yeast metabolize the sugars anaerobically, that is to say in the absence of oxygen. If oxygen is allowed to be present then the end product will be vinegar. This produces ethanol and carbon dioxide – but the concentration of ethanol in water is very low and this then has to be dealt with at a later stage.

You can find the entire article here http://aboutmyplanet.com/alternative...y/ethanol-fuel

[ALF]

Energy yields are a funny thing. If the whole picture is survival then the infrastructure that sustains us must be supported. It is a known fact that ships, rail,trucks,equipment,generators and personal trucks and some cars are dependant on diesel. Bio-diesel energy modelling shows less energy in and more out for bio-diesel than Ethanol.