[T Ruth]

McCarthy pointed out that butanol has several advantages over ethanol, including better energy density, leading to better gas mileage; moisture tolerance, enabling pipeline transport; and lower vapor pressure.

Seems like the market is inclined to agree.

[stboz]

This will be most interesting. Butanol has almost the same BTU content of gasoline and almost none of the solubility problems of ethanol.

I sure hope it can't oxidize too easily...butyric acid stinks....rancid butter.

[Jack of all Trades]

Looks like a viable candidate if the economics work out. This stuff will pose fuel system problems similar to Methanol. The flash point is 95°F so a cold starting aid will be needed. It also looks like it will attack Aluminum. On the plus side it carries more energy per pound, and if it burns invisible like Methanol, I missed that in the MSDS.

[Ghengis]

There's a man who has started a company in the central Ohio area that has been working on butanol as a fuel source. He has developed a double fermentation process that he claims can produce butanol for $3.00 and change per gallon.

I'm glad to see interest widening in this as a fuel source.

[thackney]

Butanol ping

[P-40]

Demand for alternative fuels has spiked over the past year, doubling ethanol prices, after President Bush signed an energy bill requiring oil companies to find an additive to replace the environmentally harmful MTBE.

Protecting the environment and increasing the use of alternative fuels...any praise from the Democrats yet? How is Al Gore taking the news? :)