Gasohol and bioethers as biofuels[]
Certain starch and sugar crops, like corn, potatoes, rice, sugar cane, can be used to make ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Cellulose (which is found in pretty much every plant) can be used but it requires cracking of the long cellulose chains to be broken down into its simple sugars first, which is done by freezing, or an acid treatment) Alcohol is a substance made of fermented sugars and starches. Gasohol, or E10 (10% ethanol, an alcohol, and 90% petroleum), is a mixture of gasoline and alcohol. Bioethers are dehydrated alcohols made from organic substances, not petroleum. Both substances are flammable.
How can we use gasohol and bioethers?[]
Gasohol can be used to fuel a vehicle and is cheaper than gasoline, since it contains a lower percentage of petroleum than gasoline. Certain bioethers can also be added to gasoline to reduce the percentage of petroleum, which reduces pollution. One kind (DME--Dimethyl ether) can replace diesel and gasoline altogether.
How they're used today[]
Gasohol today is often not sold over the preference of ethanol, which has even less petroleum. Some engines can run on DME, but otherwise gasohol and bioethers are not used for other purposes.
Disadvantages[]
Gasohol pollutes, since it is 90% gasoline and thus adds to the greenhouse effect. Bioethers mixed with gasoline do the same. DME, however pollutes significantly less that gasoline and diesel. Alcohol is also expensive to produce.