Will the corrosion issue of methanol gasoline hinder its development as an alternative energy source?
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Although methanol is an excellent fuel for engine ignition and starting, it has many significant drawbacks, the main one being the corrosion problem associated with its use. The high corrosiveness of methanol fuel causes severe engine failures after the vehicle has been in operation for a long time. The World Fuel Standards Organization strictly prohibits the presence of methanol in gasoline. Current technology is not yet able to effectively address the issue of metal corrosion caused by methanol gasoline. Once breakthroughs are achieved in addressing corrosion issues, I believe methanol-based gasoline remains a promising direction for energy development. What do you all think?
**Ethanol-blended gasoline is being promoted; please read the following report: News on the reduction of import tariffs on ethanol as a fuel. Source: Petroleum Trader Newspaper, December 24, 2009. China’s Ministry of Finance announced that, effective January 1, 2010, the import tariff on modified ethanol of any concentration would be reduced from 30% to 5%. This measure will facilitate the import and adoption of domestic ethanol as a fuel. Our country plans to increase the amount of ethanol blended in gasoline to 2 million tons by 2010, and to raise it to 10 million tons by 2020, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Domestic companies are working hard to research cellulose ethanol, but commercial production will still take several years. Brazil has been encouraging China to import fuel ethanol produced in Brazil. Brazilian producers welcome China’s decision, but it is not possible for Brazil to export ethanol to China in the short term; currently, the sugarcane-growing regions are in the off-season, with sugarcane harvesting starting again on April 1st.