Analyzing Physico-Chemical Properties of bloethanol and Bioethanol-Blended Fuels

摘要

In Bangladesh, development of industrial and agricultural sectors has led to an ever increasing demand of petroleum products. The annual demand of petroleum products is met primarily by refining imported crude oils from overseas, which is processed with a small quantity of oil from the Haripur Gas Field at Sylhet, Bangladesh. Bioethanol, produced from biomass, could be a potential alternative fuel for Bangladesh to meet the future energy demand and to save foreign exchange. As a quasi-renewable energy source, bioethanol is considered the cleanest alternative to fossil fuel. Although Bangladesh does not commercially produce bioethanol to date, there are few initiatives at the private sector level in this regard; therefore, it is important to understand the physico-chemical properties of bioethanol and bioethanol blended petrol and octane. This article aims to measure and analyze different fuel properties, namely, specific gravity & API gravity, gross calorific value, Reid vapor pressure, viscosity, copper strip corrosion, ASTM distillation, sulfur content, water content, ASTM color of bioethanol and bioethanol blend petrol and octane at various blending rates (0, 5, 10%). This chapter will be highly useful in providing the baseline properties of bioethanol and bioethanol blend petrol and octane as engine fuel.