THE BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE WITH ETHANOL FUEL: ASPECTS OF PRODUCTION, USE, QUALITY AND DISTRIBUTION LOGISTICS

Abstract The reduction in the availability of fossil fuel increased the search for alternative fuel sources (for example, ethanol). In the Brazilian market, light duty vehicles can be fueled with gasohol (18 up to 27.5 %v/v of anhydrous ethanol in gasoline) and/or hydrous ethanol. To minimize the risk of water-induced phase separation of gasoline-ethanol blends, anhydrous ethanol is blended into gasoline at the distribution terminal, rather than distributing it through pipelines. Pure ethanol can be distributed through pipelines or trucks, and in pipeline cases almost all are not exclusive. To...