Etanolé

Etanolé, also known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol, is a simple organic compound with chemical formula C2H5OH. It is a colorless, volatile liquid that is miscible with water and many organic solvents. Ethanol is widely used as a fuel additive, a solvent in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and as the principal type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages.

Production methods include fermentation and petrochemical routes. The primary method is fermentation of sugars by yeast, yielding beverage-grade or industrial-grade ethanol from feedstocks such as sugarcane, corn, and other carbohydrates. A second route involves catalytic hydration of ethylene, used for large-scale industrial production.

Purity and denaturation: Beverage ethanol is typically around 95% by volume, with the remainder water. Industrial ethanol may be denatured with additives to render it undrinkable, using substances such as methanol or denaturing agents to deter consumption.

Uses: In transportation, ethanol is blended with gasoline (for example E10 or E85) to reduce fossil fuel use. It also serves as an industrial solvent and as a feedstock for chemicals such as ethyl esters and acetaldehyde. Ethanol is the active ingredient in many hand sanitizers and medical wipes and appears in various consumer products.

Safety and environment: Ethanol is flammable and should be stored away from heat sources. Ingestion in high amounts can cause intoxication; contamination with methanol can be toxic. Environmentally, ethanol produced from biomass can lower net greenhouse gas emissions under certain conditions, though impacts depend on feedstock and production practices.

History: Ethanol has been produced since ancient times by fermentation; modern industrial production combines fermentation with petrochemical methods to meet large-scale demand.