Ethanol ETHANOL IS A RENEWABLE, DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED ALCOHOL FUEL MADE FROM PLANT MATERIAL, SUCH AS CORN, SUGAR CANE, OR GRASSES.

CHEMICAL STRUCTURE Ethanol is a renewable, domestically produced alcohol fuel made from plant material.

ADVANTAGE OF ETHANOL ETHANOL HAS MANY POSITIVE PERKS: It is domestically produced so it reduces oil dependency. It has lower emissions of some air pollutants. Added vehicle cost is negligible. ( not considering raising cost)

DISADVANTAGES OF ETHANOL It can only be used in Flex-Fuel vehicles. Lower energy content. ( Lower Gas Mileage ) Limited availability. Flex Fuel - Vehicle that can run on what is usually a blend of gasoline and one of the alcohols.

USES OF ETHANOL ETHANOL IS A BIOFUEL; BIOFUEL IS A WAY TO REPLACE THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS WHICH REDUCES HUMAN-CAUSED GLOBAL WARMING. HOWEVER THE MOST COMMON USE OF ETHANOL IS FOR MOTOR FUEL AND FUEL ADDITIVE. THIS MEANS THEY CAN MIX ETHANOL INTO THE GAS. ETHANOL ALSO CUTS POISONOUS GAS EMISSIONS AND REDUCES GROUND-LEVEL OZONE FORMATION. A FEW OF THE MAIN COUNTRIES THAT USE ETHANOL IS: BRAZIL, CHINA, AND THE UNITED STATES.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ETHANOL ABSORBS WATER AND CANNOT BE SHIPPED THROUGH EXISTING PIPELINES USED TO TRANSPORT UNBLENDED GASOLINE.  THE WATER CAN SEPARATE, CAUSING PIPELINES AND FUEL LINES TO FREEZE AND, PERHAPS, BURST DURING COLD WEATHER.  UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, THE WATER CAN DAMAGE CAR ENGINES.  FURTHERMORE, ETHANOL CORRODES SOFT METALS, AND CONTAMINANTS FROM CORROSION CAN DAMAGE VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEMS.

SOCIAL IMPACTS  AMERICAN FARMERS CAN MEET THE CONGRESSIONALLY CREATED DEMAND FOR MORE ETHANOL BY TAKING STEPS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION, SUCH AS: 1) DEVOTING MORE CROPLAND TO CORN AND LESS TO OTHER CROPS, 2) DIVERTING MORE OF THE CORN CROP FROM HUMAN AND ANIMAL FOOD SUPPLIES TO FUEL PRODUCTION, 3) INCREASING CORN YIELDS BY USING MORE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES,   FOR EXAMPLE, ETHANOL BOOSTERS ARE ALREADY PUSHING TO ALLOW CORN PRODUCTION ON MILLIONS OF ACRES FARMERS HAVE BEEN PAID TO SET ASIDE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNDER THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM.

ACCEPTANCE WHILE IT IS NOT DIRECTLY STATED ANYWHERE, WE CAN IMPLY THAT BECAUSE IT IS USED FOR SOME OF OUR MANY COMMON ACTIVITIES AND WE HAVE YET TO HEAR OF A BAD ENCOUNTER WITH ETHANOL, FOR THE MOST PART, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SUBCONSCIOUSLY ACCEPT.  THIS MEANING, IF IT DOESN'T AFFECT NEGATIVELY DIRECTLY THEN IT IS OKAY TO USE.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT A HOST OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES ALLOW ETHANOL PRODUCERS TO CAPTURE ADDITIONAL VALUE BY ADDING CORN OIL, RECOVERABLE CARBON DIOXIDE, CORN SYRUP, BIO-BASED CHEMICALS, AND OTHER CO-PRODUCTS TO THEIR TRADITIONAL OUTPUT OF FEED AND FUEL.