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Common Questions What is Ethanol? Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley, and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees and grasses and is called bioethanol. Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline. Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline; it is a completely renewable, domestic, environmentally friendly fuel that enhances the nation's economy and energy independence. What is E85? Ethanol can be blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 and blends with even higher concentrations of ethanol, E95, for example, qualify as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct). Vehicles that run on E85 are called flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and are offered by several vehicle manufacturers. What is E10? In some areas of the United States, lower concentrations of ethanol are blended with gasoline. The most common low concentration blend is E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline). While it reduces emissions, E10 is not considered an alternative fuel under EPAct regulations. What is Biomass? Biomass includes wood, wood by-products, grains, agricultural and livestock wastes, straw, landfill gases and municipal solid wastes. What is a Biorefinery? A biorefinery is a similar concept to the petroleum refinery, except that it is based on the conversion of biomass feedstock instead of crude oil. Various forms of biomass are converted into value added product streams. These can range from biomaterials to fuel such as ethanol and fuel gases, or key intermediates for the production of chemicals and other materials. Byproducts and residue can be used to fuel on-site power generation. What is Biocatalysis? Biocatalysis means the use of enzymes from living organisms as catalysts in chemical reactions. Biotechnology is used to identify and modify appropriate enzymes. Biocatalysis reduces the number of steps in the production process while increasing the purity of the resulting chemicals. |