Bioethanol: Not a Viable Alternative :: Ethanol is Not the Solution

The world has begun to realize the importance of finding sustainable, renewable forms of energy. One of the virtually highly prioritized forms of energy is liquid, so that we pile begin to manage our dependance on fossil energy. In the midst of this search, ethyl alcohol, a enkindle analogue which can be utilized in a variety of vehicles has dumbfound a popular alternative to fossil fuel. Many view ethyl alcohol as the fuel of the future. Bioethanol, which is currently the most prominent type of ethanol, is make from the fermentation process of crops such as sugar or corn. This can be done in two ways, through dry or wet move, the main difference between the two being that in dry milling the grains are mashed together, while in wet milling they are soaked in water for 24-48 hours before the process begins. some(prenominal) of these processes generate C02 emissions however the C02 is generally captured and used for other things(1). Many nations, with the joined States and Br azil leading in production, have begun to use ethanol fuel as a renewable liquid energy source. Over the gone six years ethanol production in the United States has close quadrupled, and the government is spending over three billion dollars in subsidies for the industry(1). thus far many people believe that the numerous drawbacks of actually producing and utilizing Ethanol outbalance these benefits, and that we should divert our attention and funding towards more viable renewable resources. The benefits of ethanol fuel seem to be f railway linely straightforward. The most popular effort cited for using bioethanol is that because it make ups a high level of oxygen it is more wipe burning than straight gasoline. According to some estimates ethanol use in the U.S. reduced CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 7 cardinal tons, and is expected to reduce emissions by 1.7 billion tons by the year 2050(2). Such a dramatic reduction of ozone forming materials helps to improve air quality in cities where the fuel is used. Ethanol also does not contain many of the toxins that fossil based gasoline does, making it more perishable and safer in the instance of a spill(3). Additionally corn-based fuels are renewable, we have the capabilities to ferment large amounts of corn, whereas we cannot produce anymore fossil energy and are express by the supplies that we already have. The idea that ethanol is a clean burning, renewable resource sounds lovely in theory, however in practice Ethanol isnt particularly sustainable.