Benefits of ethanol on air and water quality
As a fuel, Ethanol is one of the best tools used to fight air pollution from our vehicles. In fact, there is no fuel available at scale today that matches ethanol's ability to improve overall environmental quality from gasoline. Since ethanol is naturally biodegradable and contains 35% oxygen, much more complete combustion is achieved, which in turn reduces the amount of harmful tailpipe emissions and greenhouse gases. Also, ethanol is a renewable fuel produced from plants, unlike petroleum-based fossil fuels that have a limited supply and are a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. As a matter of fact, using ethanol can reduce carbon dioxide emissions for up to 34%. Furthermore, ethanol is also non-toxic, water soluble and quickly biodegradable. More importantly, ethanol provides a tool to address environmental concerns without suggesting a new way of transportation for people.
Additionally, real life studies have already proven that ethanol improves air quality. For instance, in Wisconsin, after an adoption of 10% ethanol blend, ozone exceedance days in the atmosphere dropped by 16%. Similarly, in California's South Coast District, one of the most polluted areas of the United States, a 6% ethanol blend caused a 22% reduction in ozone levels in that area.
The excessive usage of water in ethanol production has actually been of great concern to the ethanol industry. Fortunately, water usage in the production of ethanol has been declining, and is now much more feasible to produce. For instance, a gallon of gasoline will require from 2.5-8 gallons of water to produce, whilst the average ethanol bio-refinery now produces one gallon of ethanol for only 2.7 gallons of water. Moreover, because ethanol is biodegradable, it is the first component to quickly and safety biodegrade in groundwater, surface water and soil. On the contrary, gasoline, of course, can contaminate water or the soil and cause harmful environmental damage.
Additionally, real life studies have already proven that ethanol improves air quality. For instance, in Wisconsin, after an adoption of 10% ethanol blend, ozone exceedance days in the atmosphere dropped by 16%. Similarly, in California's South Coast District, one of the most polluted areas of the United States, a 6% ethanol blend caused a 22% reduction in ozone levels in that area.
The excessive usage of water in ethanol production has actually been of great concern to the ethanol industry. Fortunately, water usage in the production of ethanol has been declining, and is now much more feasible to produce. For instance, a gallon of gasoline will require from 2.5-8 gallons of water to produce, whilst the average ethanol bio-refinery now produces one gallon of ethanol for only 2.7 gallons of water. Moreover, because ethanol is biodegradable, it is the first component to quickly and safety biodegrade in groundwater, surface water and soil. On the contrary, gasoline, of course, can contaminate water or the soil and cause harmful environmental damage.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF ETHANOL ON AIR AND WATER QUALITY
Even though ethanol is considered as a clean, alternative fuel and a renewable resource, there are many negative side effects that come into play when producing the substance itself. These negative side effects ironically damage the air and water qualities of the environment.
In terms of air quality, the industrial production of ethanol causes quite an important amount of air pollution. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already accused several ethanol producers of issues with compiling to air quality standards. Making ethanol industrially will create air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The EPA has therefore taken legal action against ethanol producers who were found in violation of the Clean Air Act. The nitrogen necessary to grow these crops releases nitrous oxide into the atmosphere which is 296 times more damaging than CO2 thus contributes more to global warming than bio fuels save through fossil fuel reductions.
As for water quality, the issue is actually due to an excessive waste of water used for ethanol production. Regarding this, according to a report by the Minnesota Public Radio, ethanol plants use large amounts of water to process corn into alcohol. In fact, up to three gallons of water are consumed for every gallon of ethanol produced. As such, one Minnesota plant actually used 146 million gallons of water in 2005, enough to keep a small city running. While the better plants clean and recycle water for their own reuse, local governments must closely monitor the plants' water consumption. Even though this use of water is less than the water used for gasoline production, it is still an extravagant amount of wasted water that should be reduced.
In terms of air quality, the industrial production of ethanol causes quite an important amount of air pollution. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already accused several ethanol producers of issues with compiling to air quality standards. Making ethanol industrially will create air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The EPA has therefore taken legal action against ethanol producers who were found in violation of the Clean Air Act. The nitrogen necessary to grow these crops releases nitrous oxide into the atmosphere which is 296 times more damaging than CO2 thus contributes more to global warming than bio fuels save through fossil fuel reductions.
As for water quality, the issue is actually due to an excessive waste of water used for ethanol production. Regarding this, according to a report by the Minnesota Public Radio, ethanol plants use large amounts of water to process corn into alcohol. In fact, up to three gallons of water are consumed for every gallon of ethanol produced. As such, one Minnesota plant actually used 146 million gallons of water in 2005, enough to keep a small city running. While the better plants clean and recycle water for their own reuse, local governments must closely monitor the plants' water consumption. Even though this use of water is less than the water used for gasoline production, it is still an extravagant amount of wasted water that should be reduced.