Free Essay Example on Ethanol & Fuel: Advantages of Biofuel Additive for Gasoline

Introduction

Ethanol is a simple alcohol compound with a chemical formula C2H5OH. The –OH group is the functional group in the organic compound. Fuel is also an organic compound that can take different formulas depending on the composition. For instance, diesel has an average chemical formula C12H24, while petrol takes the form of CnH2n+2. This shows that both ethanol and fuel are hydrocarbons and their derivatives. Alcohol is most often used as a biofuel additive for gasoline, as there are advantages to that effect.

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Ethanol Components

Ethanol is a better fuel for the environment than gasoline. When ethanol is added to fuel, it leads to a lower level of emissions carbon dioxide and the oxides of nitrogen (Pimentel 128). When added to gasoline specifically, ethanol significantly reduces carbon monoxide emissions. The following equation shows the combustion of ethanol fuel.

C2H5OH (l) + 3O2 (g) 2CO2 g) + 3H2O (g)

For every mole of ethanol in the combustion, two moles of carbon dioxide are produced. On the contrary, every mole of pure gasoline fuel produces eight moles of carbon dioxide, as shown below.

C8H18 (l) +12.5 O2 (g) 8 CO2 (g) + 9H2O (g)

It is important to note that the world has been grappling with the effects of global warming, caused by too much carbon emissions and emission of nitrogenous gases. As such, every effort to reduce the impact of global warming is warmly welcomed. The effect of ethanol on fuel is in that direction. On that account, ethanol fuel is less harmful and more environmental-friendly than pure gasoline.

Advantage of Ethanol

Another advantage of ethanol in fuel is improving the fuel octane. Fuel octane is the ability fuel, say gasoline, to resist the ‘pinging’ or ‘knocking’ effect during combustion (Leone et al. 17). The effect is caused by premature detonation of air/fuel mixture in the car’s engine combustion (Leone et al. 17). The addition of ethanol improves the octane rating of the fuel. It leads to a higher level of effectiveness and efficiency when the fuel is used in a car. At the time of manufacture, car makers indicate the fuel rating desired for their vehicles. Most cars have a design made to use an octane rating of 87 in fuel combustion (Leone et al. 22). The higher the octane rating required, the more consideration is made for the addition of ethanol to gasoline to achieve the rating.

The ratios of mixing ethanol and fuel must be critically considered to get the intended benefit. For instance, a blend of more ethanol and less petrol – say 85% ethanol and 15% petrol – makes a compound of less volatile components hence fewer gas emissions (Salisbury). A mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% petrol would reduce carbon monoxide from the combustion of gasoline, and that is the approach of increasing the fuel octane (Salisbury). Therefore, it is essential to consider the mixing ratios to achieve the best outcome as intended.

The addition of ethanol to fuel also reduces the cost of fuel. Production of ethanol is cheap because it is usually obtained from the fermentation of corn (Balat and Havva 2279). On the other hand, fuel is extracted from oil mining and industrially extracted through an expensive process. Therefore, the addition of ethanol to pure fuel like diesel or gasoline reduces its cost per unit by factoring in the lower production cost of ethanol. This makes fuel less expensive and more affordable for motorists. Ethanol’s addition to fuel supports farmers and creates jobs domestically; farmers have somewhere to sell their corn (Balat and Havva 2280). This is a plus for the economy, as there is a significant reduction in dependence on foreign oil.

Renewable Energy

There has been an insistence on the use of renewable energy in the day-to-day activities of human life. As such, using ethanol fuel partially meets the criteria for renewable energy. The ethanol added to gasoline or diesel is a renewable source, adding its environmental value to its economic value. The renewable case also adds to its ecological benefits, considering its lower index of pollution.

The use of ethanol in fuel has reduced the necessity of drilling environmentally-sensitive. Such areas include the north slopes of Alaska in the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Arctic Ocean (West). These are areas that could produce natural oils that can be processed to provide fuel, but the presence of ethanol fuel has meant that they are safe, at least for now. Couple this with the fact that ethanol fuel has reduced and, in some cases, replaced the necessity for shale oil, which is environmentally sensitive. It adds to the benefits that come with using ethanol in fuel.

Conclusion

To conclude, the benefits of adding ethanol to fuel are scientific, environmental, and economical. Scientific in that it improves the octane rating of the fuel. They are environmental in that it reduces the emission of greenhouse gases into the environment. Finally, they are economical in the creation of jobs and improving energy independence of a country. This shows that ethanol’s addition to fuel comes with all-round benefits. It is a scientific concept that transcends the conquests of the laboratory all the way to the national coffers. Therefore, the nation and its inhabitants can be implored to always consider using ethanol fuel to enjoy the benefits attached to the act.

Works Cited

Balat, Mustafa, and Havva, Balat. “Recent Trends in Global Production and Utilization of Bio-Ethanol Fuel”. Applied Energy, vol. 86, no. 11, 2009, pp. 2273-2282. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.03.015. Accessed 15 July 2020.

Leone, Thomas G. et al. “Effects Of Fuel Octane Rating And Ethanol Content On Knock, Fuel Economy, And CO2 For A Turbocharged DI Engine”. SAE International Journal Of Fuels And Lubricants, vol. 7, no. 1, 2014, pp. 9-28. SAE International, doi:10.4271/2014-01-1228. Accessed 15 July 2020.

Pimentel, David. “Ethanol Fuels: Energy Balance, Economics, And Environmental Impacts Are Negative”. Natural Resources Research, vol. 12, no. 2, 2003, pp. 127-134. Springer Science And Business Media LLC, doi:10.1023/a:1024214812527. Accessed 15 July 2020.

Salisbury, Mark. “The Pros And Cons Of Ethanol Fuel - Fleetpoint”. Fleetpoint, 2019, https://www.fleetpoint.org/fuel/green-fuels/the-pros-and-cons-of-ethanol-fuel/. Accessed 15 July 2020.

West, Larry. “What Are The Pros, Cons, And Cost Of Using Ethanol?”. Thoughtco, 2019, https://www.thoughtco.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-ethanol-fuel-1203777. Accessed 15 July 2020.