Pathways resilient future for developing a sustainable E85 fuel and prospects towards its applications

The utilization of ethanol as a component of motor gasolines is an extremely effective way to increase the detonation resistance and environmental properties. In Russia, despite the existing prerequisites for the development of bioethanol industry, the real production of bioethanol is not executed, which is associated with its high price. One of the promising ways of leveling this drawback is the utilization of water-cut waste from its production, involving ethyl alcohol impurity concentrate (EAIC) instead of pure ethanol. This is a mixture of head and bottoms fractions ob-tained in the process of ethyl alcohol purification by distillation. This research paper investigates the impact of the na-ture of hydrocarbon fraction blended with ethyl alcohol impurity concentrate on the final characterization of E85 fuel and, in particular, on its phase stability and Reid vapor pressure. Physicochemical characteristics of the developed fuel composition were studied. The results indicated that none of the possible classes of hydrocarbons could effectively solve the problems of phase stability and volatility of E85 fuel. Additionally, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was the only promising component. The composition, consisting of 70 % ethyl alcohol impurity concentrate and 30 % methyl tertiary butyl ether, met the requirements of American society for testing and materials (ASTM 5798) in almost all respects. A significant discrepancy is observed only in the water content, which is compensated by the great phase sta-bility of the composition at low temperatures. In addition, this fuel composition is characterized by great potential competitiveness in Russian conditions and without fiscal support, which was proved by preliminary calculations of the cost of E85 fuel.

Automated summary

Ethanol as a component of gasoline can improve combustion resistance and environmental performance, but high production cost hinders its actual production in Russia. Using ethanol impurity concentrate blend shows promise and can reduce production costs.