If alcohol is mentioned, it is usually in reference to ethanol. It can be a fuel. It can also be used to get intoxicated. It has been a factor in most human cultures for a very long time.
In the technical language of chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound that has an oxygen hydrogen group called a hydroxyl attached to a carbon atom. There are many compounds that fit this description. In common language, the word alcohol by itself usually refers to ethanol. Ethanol is also referred to as grain alcohol. Methanol, a simpler alcohol that is highly toxic, is often called wood alcohol. Historically it was often derived from wood, though other processes are used today.
The use of alcohol goes back before the beginning of history. Fermentation is usually used to make it. This entails adding a microorganism, usually yeast, to a mixture of water, sugar, and other constituents. The microorganism eats the sugar and excretes ethanol.
Fermented grape juice becomes wine. Fermented grain becomes beer. Other vegetable products may be used as well, as long as sufficient sugar is present. Grain may need to be malted, i. E., sprouted, to convert starches to sugar before fermentation.
At some point, the accumulation of alcohol kills the yeast. Thus the maximum percentage of alcohol from fermentation is about 15%, or much less in many cases. Distillation can be used to bump up the concentration.
Distillation was invented some time ago. It works because the boiling point of water is higher than that of ethanol. As the fermented fluid rises in temperature, the water evaporates more slowly than the alcohol. Condensing the resulting vapor yields a higher concentration of alcohol. Doing this multiple times can result in a high level of alcohol.
Ethanol is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. It is a central nervous system depressant. In small doses it generally causes euphoric feelings. Moderate doses can lead to impulsive behavior, poor judgment, and violence in some cases. As the dosage increases, it leads to stupefaction, unconsciousness, and finally death. Intoxication is a major factor in fatal automobile accidents. Even small doses have been found to significantly increase reaction time.
Those who drink moderately or heavily for a period of time run the risk of alcoholism. This creates a combination of physical and psychological dependence. This condition is complicated by the fact that heavy users who suddenly quit can have major problems, including fatal ones.
Drinking heavily over time causes significant health problems. Interestingly, light drinking over time seems to be good for the health. One should be cautious about seeking this benefit, as even light drinking can possibly lead to alcoholism.
Ethanol is not just a drug, it is also a fuel. It is commonly blended with gasoline in small amounts and burned in standard gasoline burning engines. With a few changes the same engines can use it by itself.
There has been much interest in this substance as a biofuel. Deriving it from corn is controversial, as it impacts food supplies. It is possible that considering the energy requirements for both farming the corn and processing it into a fuel, more fossil fuel may be expended than is replaced. Technology to derive it from cellulose sources such as saw grass is being developed.
Ethanol suppliers have a big role in human history. The picture of its use as a drug is a mixture of good and bad. Its role as a fuel is much the same, but its future here is fairly promising.
In the technical language of chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound that has an oxygen hydrogen group called a hydroxyl attached to a carbon atom. There are many compounds that fit this description. In common language, the word alcohol by itself usually refers to ethanol. Ethanol is also referred to as grain alcohol. Methanol, a simpler alcohol that is highly toxic, is often called wood alcohol. Historically it was often derived from wood, though other processes are used today.
The use of alcohol goes back before the beginning of history. Fermentation is usually used to make it. This entails adding a microorganism, usually yeast, to a mixture of water, sugar, and other constituents. The microorganism eats the sugar and excretes ethanol.
Fermented grape juice becomes wine. Fermented grain becomes beer. Other vegetable products may be used as well, as long as sufficient sugar is present. Grain may need to be malted, i. E., sprouted, to convert starches to sugar before fermentation.
At some point, the accumulation of alcohol kills the yeast. Thus the maximum percentage of alcohol from fermentation is about 15%, or much less in many cases. Distillation can be used to bump up the concentration.
Distillation was invented some time ago. It works because the boiling point of water is higher than that of ethanol. As the fermented fluid rises in temperature, the water evaporates more slowly than the alcohol. Condensing the resulting vapor yields a higher concentration of alcohol. Doing this multiple times can result in a high level of alcohol.
Ethanol is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. It is a central nervous system depressant. In small doses it generally causes euphoric feelings. Moderate doses can lead to impulsive behavior, poor judgment, and violence in some cases. As the dosage increases, it leads to stupefaction, unconsciousness, and finally death. Intoxication is a major factor in fatal automobile accidents. Even small doses have been found to significantly increase reaction time.
Those who drink moderately or heavily for a period of time run the risk of alcoholism. This creates a combination of physical and psychological dependence. This condition is complicated by the fact that heavy users who suddenly quit can have major problems, including fatal ones.
Drinking heavily over time causes significant health problems. Interestingly, light drinking over time seems to be good for the health. One should be cautious about seeking this benefit, as even light drinking can possibly lead to alcoholism.
Ethanol is not just a drug, it is also a fuel. It is commonly blended with gasoline in small amounts and burned in standard gasoline burning engines. With a few changes the same engines can use it by itself.
There has been much interest in this substance as a biofuel. Deriving it from corn is controversial, as it impacts food supplies. It is possible that considering the energy requirements for both farming the corn and processing it into a fuel, more fossil fuel may be expended than is replaced. Technology to derive it from cellulose sources such as saw grass is being developed.
Ethanol suppliers have a big role in human history. The picture of its use as a drug is a mixture of good and bad. Its role as a fuel is much the same, but its future here is fairly promising.
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With sales of approximately $2 billion, we operate over 30 market pulp, wood pulp product manufacturing units, and produces silvichemicals from by-products of its pulping process and specialty chemicals.
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