Ethanol environmental effects

Environmental Effects of Ethanol Production. Production of ethanol could potentially produce two forms of air pollution the release of pollutants from the boiler used to produce process steam, and vaporization of ethanol during the production process. If crop residues or lower grade fuels such as coal (low sulfur) are used as boiler fuel, which is preferable from a net energy gain basis, the resulting pollutants may be controlled through use of flue gas stack scrubbers. The release of ethanol vapors at the plant site is not considered a major concern at this time. 

The higher-resolution spectrum of ethanol, shown in Figure 19-12b. reveals that two of the three proton resonances are split into additional peaks. I his secondary environmental effect. W hich is superinipo.sed... 

Balat, M., 2008. Biodiesel fuel production from vegetable oils via supercritical ethanol transesterification. Energy Sources, Part A Recovery Utilization, and Environmental Effects 30,429-440. 

Feedstock processes either for biodiesel or for ethanol production also present three further environmental effects such as fertihty of soils, biodiversity, and hydrological impacts (Kartha, 2006). Extended agricultural practices also affect increases of indirect emissions of carbon as well as other dangerous GHGs (eg, NOjc) and contribute to deforestation and biodiversity losses. 

Shen, F., Liu, R., Wang, T., 2009. Effects of temperature, pH, agitation and particles stuffing rate on fermentation of sorghum stalk juice to ethanol. Energy Sources Part A - Recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects 31 (8), 646—656. 

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF ETHANOL AND METHANOL PRODUCTION FROM BIOMASS HANS EGNEUS... 

Ihe main drawbacks for a utilization of alcohols produced from biomass are to be found in the economic and environmental areas.There are problems of technical nature e.g. v at techniques should be used when cellulose-containing plants are used for ethanol production,vhich gasifier technology should be used etc. But analysing what environmental effects a liquid fuel production from biomass can have is of the outmost importance when an extended use of biomass for energy use is discussed. 

In this paper I will discuss the possible environmental effects associated with the production of methanol and ethanol from biomass.Only methanol production via gasification and ethanol production from cellulose-containing plant material will be considered. 

I will therefore concentrate on some specific steps of the production processes for ethanol and methanol where environmental or health effects could be high if no action is taken. Ihe environmental effects of growing and harvesting the biomass will not be treated. 

Egneus H,Wallin G and W gberg SA (1983) Health and environmental effects of synthetic fuels IV.Production of ethanol from cellulose-containing plants, Report to Natl.Swed.Env.Prot.Board... 

The application of flavonoids for the treatment of various diseases associated with free radical overproduction is considered in Chapter 29. However, it seems useful to discuss here some studies describing the activity of flavonoids under certain pathophysiological conditions. Oral pretreatment with rutin of rats, in which gastric lesions were induced by the administration of 100% ethanol, resulted in the reduction of the area of gastric lesions [157]. Rutin was found to be an effective inhibitor of TBAR products in the gastric mucosa induced by 50%i ethanol [158]. Rutin and quercetin were active in the reduction of azoxymethanol-induced colonic neoplasma and focal area of dysplasia in the mice [159], Chemopreventive effects of quercetin and rutin were also shown in normal and azoxymethane-treated mouse colon [160]. Flavonoids exhibited radioprotective effect on 7-ray irradiated mice [161], which was correlated with their antioxidative activity. Dietary flavones and flavonols protected against the toxicity of the environmental contaminant dioxin [162], Rutin inhibited ovariectomy-induced osteopenia in rats [163],... 

Alcoholism is a chronic relapsing disorder. The risk of alcoholism depends on interactions between genetic, environmental and neurobiological factors. Historically, ethanol s actions were attributed to nonspecific disruption of the lipid bilayer of neurons. It is now recognized that ethanol has specific targets, and that effects of longterm ethanol exposure are due to neuroadaptations as well as neurotoxicity [42-45]. 

Ethanol is produced as a more environmentally benign fuel. The systematic effect of ethyl alcohol differs from that of methyl alcohol. Ethyl alcohol is rapidly oxidized in the body to carbon dioxide and water, and in contrast to methyl alcohol no cumulative effect occurs. Ethanol is also a preferred alcohol in the transportation sector compared to methanol because it is derived from agricultural products and is renewable and biologically less objectionable in the enviromnent. 

Fernandez-Teruel A, DriscoU P, Gil L, Tobena A, Escorihuela RM (2002) Enduring effects of environmental enrichment on novelty seeking, saccharin and ethanol intake in two rat lines (RHA/Verh and RLA/Verh) differing in incentive-seeking behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 73 225-231... 

Patients with ethanol or sedative-hypnotic overdose may be euphoric and rowdy ("drunk") or in a state of stupor or coma ("dead drunk"). Comatose patients often have depressed respiratory drive. Depression of protective airway reflexes may result in aspiration of gastric contents. Hypothermia may be present because of environmental exposure and depressed shivering. Ethanol blood levels greater than 300 mg/dL usually cause deep coma, but regular users are often tolerant to the effects of ethanol and may be ambulatory despite even higher levels. Patients with GHB overdose are often deeply comatose for 3-4 hours and then awaken fully in a matter of minutes. 

The investigation of methods for recycling the remaining enantiomer, (R)-4, revealed that sodium ethoxide in ethanol at 80 °C effected more than 98% racemization in 8-16 h. This chemistry has been further developed and implemented by Pfizer, and the environmental benefits of racemizing and recycling the wrong enantiomer are shown in Section 8.4. 

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