Other bio-alternative to ethanol.
Interesting reading. I'm no chemist myself, but the article seems to make sense.
And apparently it solves one of ethanol's shortcomings: its water affinity.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...l_x.htm?csp=24

 

...except butanol is nowhere near as easy to produce as ethanol.. You gotta make ethanol on the way to getting to butanol.

Looks attractive, and is, on the small scale, but not scaleable the way ethanol already is. It will surely be used in some quantity, but it seems that ethanol is a better fit overall- most of the same benefits with an easier production process and existing scale.

here's their booster website: http://www.butanol.com/

 

What is getting me excited is that industry interest for all sorts of alternative fuels is increasing, R&D dollars are being spent, and public awarereness is increasing.


All of these are good news indeed! Granted, not all solutions will prove to be economically feasible, but the wheels are in motion. I'm very happy.

 

yes!

 

It makes sense not so much as a standalone fuel, but as a replacement for ethanol to be blended with gasoline. One big benefit is because it has higher energy density by volume than ethanol, so it won't cut fuel efficiency, and it can be blended in higher ratios later if so desired on a wide scale. It can also be pipelined-- that is a big advantage for places that are not located near where the ethanol is produced.

 

I agree that it looks like a great "gasoline stretcher" it doesn't seem like any one nation is big enough to make butanol THE fuel, but it might reduce reliance on fossil fuels.