What is Ethanol?
The use of ethanol as a fuel for internal combustion engines,either alone or in combination with other fuels,has become widespread due to its environmental and long-term economical advantages over fossil fuel.
Both ethanol and methanol have been considered for this purpose. While both can be obtained from petroleum or natural gas,ethanol may be the most interesting because it is a renewable resource,easily obtained from sugar or starch in crops and other agricultural produce such as grain,sugarcane or even lactose. Since ethanol occurs in nature whenever yeast happens to find a sugar solution such as overripe fruit,most organisms have evolved some tolerance to ethanol,whereas methanol is toxic. When 10% alcohol fuel is mixed into gasoline,the result is known as gasohol or E10. When 85% alcohol fuel is mixed into gasoline,the result is known as E85. Other experiments involve butanol,which can also be produced by fermentation of plants. Also sometimes ethanol might be named bioethanol.
Farmers Union Oil of Southern Valley is proud to support the Biofuels movement. We offer E85 at our Wahpeton location and E10 at all 4 of our sites –Fairmount,Breckenridge,Wahpeton and Mooreton.