Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is part of the family of alcohols (methanol, propanol and butanol) Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is a chemical compound, a simple alcohol with the chemical formula C2H6O. Its formula can be also written as CH3−CH2−OH or C2H5OH
ETHANOL'S ARE NOT ALL THE SAME! SYNTHETIC VS FERMENTATION(Natural)
There are two main types of ethanol – fermentation(Natural) and synthetic. Natural Ethanol is produced biologically by the fermentation of sugar and grain. Today, ethanol can also be produced synthetically from petrochemical feedstock e.g. coal, ethylene, biomass, natural gas, organic landfill waste
SYNTHETIC ETHANOL synthetic alcohol is produced by the gasification of heavy hydrocarbons such as coal, or lighter carbon resources such as natural gas, biomass and organic landfill waste. The process involves high temperature and pressure in an oxygen-controlled atmosphere. ALL Petroleum-derived ethanol is regarded as a (synthetic ethanol)
FERMENTATION ETHANOL / BIO-ETHANOL (NATURAL) sugarcane are common feedstocks for fermentation ethanol, along with grain, potato and sugar beet bio-ethanol is made from the fermentation of carbohydrate derived sugars, followed by distillation
SYNTHETIC & NATURAL ETHANOL ARE CHEMICALLY IDENTICAL
Synthetic ethanol is chemically identical to bio-ethanol. They are both the same compound C2H5OH. The only difference is that bio-ethanol is made from the fermentation of carbohydrate derived sugars, followed by distillation whereas synthetic alcohol is produced through a thermo-chemical process which begins with the creation of syngas from the gasification of a wide range of resources, e.g. coal, biomass (Plant and animal material).
ETHANOL USES AND APPLICATIONS
ETHANOL is widely used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals (medicines), cosmetics (deodorants, perfumes), alcoholic beverages (Vodka,gin,Cane), toiletries (Air fresheners & Aerosols), Home (Detergents, cleaners and sterilizers) and personal care products, industrial products (paints, printing inks), essences (Flavours, food essence), (Heating and cooking) and as an intermediate in chemicals manufacture such as esters and acrylates