About Industrial Alcohol & Ethanol
Ethanol, a type of industrial alcohol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid dirived directly from molasses. Ethanol
fuel is the most common biofuel worldwide, particularly in Brazil. Alcohol fuels are produced by fermentation of sugars derived from wheat, corn, sugar beets, sugar cane, molasses and any sugar or
starch that alcoholic beverages can be made from (like potato and fruit waste, etc.). The ethanol production methods used are enzyme digestion (to release sugars from stored starches), fermentation
of the sugars, distillation and drying. The distillation process requires significant energy input for heat.
Ethanol can be used in petrol engines as a replacement for gasoline; it can be mixed with gasoline to any percentage. Most existing car petrol engines can run on blends of up to 15% bioethanol with
petroleum/gasoline. Ethanol is also used to fuel bioethanol fireplaces. As they do not require a chimney and are "flueless", bio ethanol fires are extremely useful for new build homes and apartments
without a flue.
One of the most remunerative applications of molasses is in the manufacture of ethanol, an environment friendly fuel. Being an oxygenate it contains high percentage of oxygen which helps combust fuel
more completely and reduces vehicular injurious emission. The Government has made blending of fuel petrol with 5% ethanol mandatory with effect from 1st October, 2003 in nine states and four union
Spent wash, an effluent generated from processed molasses is used with press mud for the production of organic fertilizer. The group has installed Bio Compost Plants at Shyamabad near Seohara,
Narkatiaganj and Hargaon to produce organic fertilizer which is marketed under the brand name "Uttam Jaivik Khad", and "Oudh Shakti Jaivik Khad".
Some Advantages of Bio-Compost are:
Mobilizing existing soil nutrients, so that good growth is achieved with lower nutrient densities while wasting less
Releasing nutrients at a slower, more consistent rate
Helping to retain soil moisture, reducing the stress due to temporary moisture stress
Improving the soil structure
Helping to prevent topsoil erosion
Organic fertilizers also have the advantage of avoiding certain problems associated with the regular heavy use of artificial fertilizers:
The necessity of reapplying artificial fertilizers regularly (and perhaps in increasing quantities) to maintain fertility
Extensive runoff of soluble nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to eutrophication of bodies of water (which causes fish kills)
Costs are lower for if fertilizer is locally available