What are the potential benefits of implementing hydrous ethanol?
Substituting hydrous ethanol for current applications of anhydrous ethanol stands to advance the overall ethanol fuel option in a number of ways, including: significantly reducing ethanol plant capital and production costs and increasing production volumes, by eliminating the final dehydration step; reducing the energy input requirements for ethanol processing, which will also add to the greenhouse gas benefits and other environmental advantages of ethanol; eliminating the need for separate storage and handling of two grades of ethanol (hydrous and anhydrous), and easing the burden of distribution system practices necessary to maintain anhydrous ethanol specifications; and finally, the potential for higher engine operating efficiencies.
