Ethanol ignition temperature

Ethanol has a higher ignition temperature (425 °C) than paper (230 °C). The water protects the paper from burning in the heat of the Bunsen flame. 

The engine was the first to incorporate compression ignition of alcohols (7). Low cetane fuels can autoignite, however, provided the in-cylinder temperature is high enough and fuel injection correcdy timed. This compression ignition works for methanol as well as ethanol and gasoline. 

It may ignite in moist air [1], The dry powder is very dusty, and suspensions in dry air have a low minimum ignition energy, 17.1 mJ. After an induction period depending on the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere, a sample confined in a Dewar flask decomposed rapidly, with an exotherm of 200°C. Heats of solution in ethanol and in water are 0.63 and 0.65 kJ/g, respectively. [2],... 

The oxide ignites immediately with ethanol at ambient temperature [1]. The liquid oxide (above 24°C) reacts very violently with methanol, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfite or dimethyl sulfoxide (also with arsenic trifluoride) and charring may occur [2],... 

The autoignition temperature of ethanol is significantly higher than that of gasoline or diesel fuel. This should make ethanol less susceptible to ignition when spilled on hot surfaces such as engine exhaust manifolds. 

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