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Title: Alcohols - its use, energy and economics - a Brazilian outlook

Abstract

A survey is made of the state of the art of the production ethanol from sugar cane and other crops and the problems and constraints involved on its use as an automotive fuel. The improved efficiency of modified internal combustion engines running on pure alcohol is discussed as well as pollution problems. It is shown that these problems are not aggravated by the use of ethanol. The energy balances for the production of ethanol from sugar cane, cassava, sweet sorghum and wood are compared in Brazil and in the United States. Costs of ethanol from different crops are evaluated and the conclusion reached that in present Brazilian conditions it is US/12.69/GJ when produced from sugar cane. Gasoline cost in Brazil is US/12.19/GJ ex-refinery. Considering that ethanol when used as an octane booster has an efficiency 25% higher than gasoline, the final conclusion is that ethanol has reached the breakeven point as compared with gasoline in Brazil. 83 refs.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Princeton Univ, NJ, USA
OSTI Identifier:
5167719
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Resour Manage. Optim.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 1:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS; BRAZIL; ETHANOL FUELS; ECONOMICS; AUTOMOTIVE FUELS; BREAKEVEN; CASSAVA; PAYBACK PERIOD; SORGHUM; SUGAR CANE; WOOD; ALCOHOL FUELS; CEREALS; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; ENERGY BALANCE; FUELS; GRAMINEAE; GRASS; LATIN AMERICA; PLANTS; SOUTH AMERICA; SYNTHETIC FUELS; 090200* - Alcohol Fuels- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Moreira, J R, and Goldemberg, J. Alcohols - its use, energy and economics - a Brazilian outlook. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
Moreira, J R, & Goldemberg, J. Alcohols - its use, energy and economics - a Brazilian outlook. United States.
Moreira, J R, and Goldemberg, J. 1981. "Alcohols - its use, energy and economics - a Brazilian outlook". United States.
@article{osti_5167719,
title = {Alcohols - its use, energy and economics - a Brazilian outlook},
author = {Moreira, J R and Goldemberg, J},
abstractNote = {A survey is made of the state of the art of the production ethanol from sugar cane and other crops and the problems and constraints involved on its use as an automotive fuel. The improved efficiency of modified internal combustion engines running on pure alcohol is discussed as well as pollution problems. It is shown that these problems are not aggravated by the use of ethanol. The energy balances for the production of ethanol from sugar cane, cassava, sweet sorghum and wood are compared in Brazil and in the United States. Costs of ethanol from different crops are evaluated and the conclusion reached that in present Brazilian conditions it is US/12.69/GJ when produced from sugar cane. Gasoline cost in Brazil is US/12.19/GJ ex-refinery. Considering that ethanol when used as an octane booster has an efficiency 25% higher than gasoline, the final conclusion is that ethanol has reached the breakeven point as compared with gasoline in Brazil. 83 refs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5167719}, journal = {Resour Manage. Optim.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 1:3,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}