Fuel Grade Ethanol

A highly concentrated, renewable form of ethanol produced from plant biomass (such as corn, sugarcane, or cellulosic materials). It is denatured (chemically treated to make it undrinkable) and blended with gasoline to create fuel mixtures like E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) or E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline). These blends are commonly used in internal combustion engines to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Application & Usage

Fuel-grade ethanol (also called anhydrous ethanol, typically ≥99.5% purity) has several major uses:

Transportation Fuel

  • Blending with gasoline: Most commonly in E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) or E85 (51–85% ethanol, rest gasoline for FFVs).
  • Octane booster: Raises the octane number, reducing engine knock
  • Cleaner combustion: Produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions and some pollutants compared to pure gasoline

Standalone fuel

  • Used in flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) designed to run on high ethanol blends or pure ethanol (E100 in some countries like Brazil)

Power & Heat Generation

  • Bioethanol boilers: Can replace heating oil or natural gas in power plants or CHP (combined heat and power) systems
  • Electricity generation: Burned in modified turbines or engines

Domestic & Small-scale Uses

  • Bioethanol fireplaces: Ventless indoor fireplaces that burn ethanol for heat and ambience, producing only CO₂ and water vapor
  • Heaters & camping stoves: A clean-burning alternative to kerosene or propane