The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened a comment period for the registration of the use of Isobutanol in gasoline.\u00a0 Why is this important?\u00a0 Because since the states banning of the use of MTBE and other ethers in underground tanks, this is the only oxygenate, other than ethanol, allowed to be used in commerce. This is a significant event as it will allow the US consumer to choose oxygenates.<\/p>\n
Many parts of the United States are classified as non-attainment areas, or opt-in areas, for pollution.\u00a0 They have rules that require the use of Reformulated Gasoline (RFG).\u00a0 In these RFG areas, no gasoline can be sold in commerce unless it contains an oxygenate.\u00a0 For many consumers, this means that if they want to buy an ethanol-free gasoline, they are limited to buying very small containers of conventional gasoline \u2013 at a cost of up to $28 per gallon.
\nThe ability to choose whether you have ethanol or isobutanol is significant.\u00a0 Since the introduction of ethanol into the gasoline pool, consumers with small engines with vented fuel systems, have dealt with a host of problems that all begin with ethanol\u2019s nature to attract water.<\/p>\n
Consumers concerned about the environment seek an ethanol-free gasoline, but they want to avoid the problems with ethanol.<\/p>\n
So why is ethanol so bad for them?\u00a0 In a modern car, the fuel system is sealed.\u00a0 When one opens the fuel door, they will see the warnings on the filler cap: \u00a0\u201cCaution, Remove Slowly, Fuel Spray May Cause Injury.\u00a0 Tighten until Cap Clicks.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 These warnings are necessary because the fuel systems in modern cars run in a vacuum condition to prevent atmospheric moisture from coming in contact with the gasoline.\u00a0 Thus, when we hear the \u201cclicks\u201d on the gas cap, it is confirmation that the cap has sealed the fuel filler tube and that the system can now remove the air and create a vacuum.\u00a0 That\u2019s also why we may hear the \u201cswish\u201d sound of air entering the tube when we remove the cap.<\/p>\n
A sealed fuel system reduces the risk of the ethanol caused water to be pulled into the fuel.\u00a0Ethanol is hygroscopic.\u00a0 While it is a bit difficult to explain the term, everyone does know that ethanol and water will mix \u2013 as when we have a mixed drink.\u00a0However, what we may not know is that ethanol\u2019s hygroscopic nature will literally suck water out of the air.<\/p>\n
An internet search will reveal some convincing videos about ethanol attracting water into gasoline. Moist air is attracted to the fuel, then starts to condense on the interior of the fuel system. The condensation forms droplets which become streams of water that fall into the gasoline.\u00a0 We see a similar reaction when we have a glass of iced tea outside and the moist air condenses droplets on the outside of the glass.\u00a0 Those drops turn into little streams of water, rolling down your glass.\u00a0This is what happens in your fuel system.<\/p>\n
The process will continue until the ethanol has absorbed all the water and becomes saturated.\u00a0 Then, the ethanol-water mixture can become separated from the gasoline.\u00a0 This separation of the ethanol-water mix from the gasoline is a significant issue since ethanol is a high-octane additive. \u00a0Losing the ethanol from a gallon of gas will mean that the octane is reduced by two octane numbers.\u00a0 If an engine is designed to run on an 87 octane gasoline and you reduce it to an 85 octane gas, the engine will likely not run properly and could even be damaged.<\/p>\n
Secondly, the presence of water in the gasoline and the gas tank present other complications.\u00a0 The water will have a negative effect on the engine performance and may result insignificant damage to the engine.\u00a0 Fuels systems can be affected by acids that can form with water in the fuel tank.\u00a0These acids can degrade metal, fiberglass, rubber hoses and plastic used in fuel systems to the point where they can fail and must be replaced.<\/p>\n
Most boaters with an outboard engine have an \u201cethanol story\u201d to tell.\u00a0 This is also true of anyone with any small engine that powers off road vehicles, generators and compressors, or other small engines like those used in lawn equipment, chainsaws, Jaws of Life and ATV\u2019s.<\/p>\n
The National Marine Manufacturer\u2019s Association (NMMA) has been studying these issues and testing solutions: In 2015, they endorsed the use of gasoline using isobutanol over any ethanol-based gasolines.\u00a0 They did this at about the same time as the government allowed the sale of E15, a gasoline blend with 15% ethanol.<\/p>\n
Back to the Future
\nEssentially, as a nation, we are regressing back ten years to a time when the USA had a choice of oxygenates.\u00a0Many oxygenates had long names, but were known by their initials \u2013 MTBE, ETBE and TAME.\u00a0 At that time, using ethanol as an oxygenate rendered the gasoline mixture a \u201cgasohol.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ethers that were in use in 2007 are still legal today by federal standards.\u00a0 However, states have outlawed their use in underground storage tanks.\u00a0 Isobutanol has not been outlawed and it meets federal standards.\u00a0 And, isobutanol is available in renewable and non-renewable versions.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t believe the EPA will have any problem registering the Isobutanol based gasoline.\u00a0 However, they are asking for public comments.\u00a0Every person, and company, has the right to provide comments about the questions raised by the EPA:<\/p>\n
The need for additional health-effects testing under the Tier 3 provisions in the\u00a0 regulations, and the need for additional regulatory controls for 16 percent isobutanol in gasoline.<\/p>\n
The EPA has invited all comments, stating that \u201cwe are seeking public comment regarding any issues we should take into consideration for this registration and any supplemental actions we should consider under the Clean Air Act to further protect public health and welfare.\u201d\u00a0 Thus, anyone can offer any other comments on the issues.\u00a0 You can find the EPA Docket Announcement here:<\/p>\n
I would think we might see the petroleum industry and the ethanol industry do something they hardly ever do \u2013 agree.\u00a0 \u00a0They just might agree that Isobutanol requires much testing before being registered for use in gasoline.\u00a0 I think ardent supporters, like boaters, will positively comment about the additive. \u00a0In fact, the NMMA has already filed their comment to support the use of Isobutanol.\u00a0That\u2019s here.<\/p>\n
I also expect to see various comments from consumers endorsing the need for the registration as a way of offering choices in oxygenates.\u00a0 For those who are serious about making the gasoline mixture, I expect to see some comments about the need for refiners and blenders to produce the gasoline blendstock called Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygen Blending (RBOB) that can be blended with ethanol or isobutanol.\u00a0 Ten years ago, when refiners created the RBOB, they produced a \u201cProduct Transfer Document (PTD)\u201d that would allow blending of any alcohol oxygenate.\u00a0 But since the switch to ethanol, many refiners and blenders created an exclusive RBOB that could only be used with ethanol.<\/p>\n
I find it difficult to believe that refiners are making RBOB exclusively for use with ethanol. However, it is happening and our anecdotal survey of refiners says that many will not change their PTD to allow use of Isobutanol.<\/p>\n
When asked why they will not create gasoline blendstock for Isobutanol the answers are almost always the same, and some are surprising:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use ethanol as our only oxygenate so no need to change\u201d;
\n\u201cIsobutanol costs three times the cost of ethanol;, it is not economical to use it\u201d;
\n\u201cWe only have one tank for an oxygenate and it is in service for ethanol\u201d.
\nThese factors will weigh down the use of Isobutanol in the short term and the blending might stay where it is now \u2013 downstream of the petroleum terminal delivery system.<\/p>\n
Much Isobutanol is blended into gasoline outside of the terminal system by a combination of gasoline retailers and oxygenate blenders.\u00a0 Currently, Gulf Racing Fuels is making an off-road Isobutanol-gasoline mixture for boats called \u201cGulf Marine\u201d.\u00a0 Due to the factors listed above, the fuel is splash blended on petroleum transporters to get it to the retailer.<\/p>\n
Retailers understand that there is a demand for this product and the price is nearly completely inelastic \u2013 for a small segment of the marketplace.\u00a0 Consumers who want ethanol-free fuel are given the choice of a quart of pure gas at a hardware store that sells for the equivalent of $28 per gallon, or they can find a gasoline retailer who offers an Isobutanol-blended gasoline for about $4-5 per gallon. The market is proven, but retailers are stymied by the lack of infrastructure to blend the gasoline.<\/p>\n
There are hot spots for Isobutanol use in the following RFG areas:<\/p>\n
East Coast coastal counties from Maryland to Maine;
\nChicago area;
\nLouis market;
\nDallas\/Fort Worth;
\nHouston\/Galveston; and
\nSouthern California.
\nRefiners and blenders able to make gasoline for blending with isobutanol should have no trouble finding retailers willing to market the ethanol-free gasoline.<\/p>\n
Refiners and Pipelines
\nThere will be much discussion about Isobutanol-blended gasoline going into pipelines.\u00a0 Remember that pipelines approved the transportation of gasoline with non-hygroscopic alcohols more than ten years ago.\u00a0 However, the pipeline has to deliver the fuel into a tank at the terminus of the pipeline and if that tank has RBOB dedicated to ethanol then no Isobutanol-blended gasoline can enter the tank.\u00a0 So, although pipelines can carry the blend they don\u2019t have anywhere to deliver it.<\/p>\n
Gasoline Retailers: Mixing Ethanol and Isobutanol is a No-no
\nOne of the other reasons that the new gas will be limited in distribution is the EPA\u2019s no blend rule.\u00a0The EPA will not allow ethanol and isobutanol gasolines to be mixed together at any point prior to retail purchase.\u00a0\u00a0 Any gasoline retailer using what is commonly referred to as a \u201cblender pump or dispenser\u201d will not be able to offer a midgrade product if ethanol-based gasoline is also offered.\u00a0 You see, in most gas stations three grades of gasoline are offered, regular, mid-grade and premium.\u00a0 There are only two storage tanks and one contains regular and the other contains premium.\u00a0 The dispenser mixes the two together to make the mid-grade gas.<\/p>\n
This means that any retailer who offers a premium isobutanol gasoline alongside an ethanol-based regular gas cannot produce a mid-grade combination due to the EPA restriction.\u00a0Most retailers simply turn off the blender make the mid-grade 100% premium and price it accordingly.<\/p>\n
Public Comments
\nLook for the majority of public comments to be positive as consumers now know the product can be made and they are willing to pay the price for the fuel.\u00a0 The gasoline retailers will also support the fuel\u2019s registration so that they can offer the product at the retail pump.\u00a0 The same group will complain about the EPA no mix restriction.\u00a0 There will be some discussion about the Product Transfer Document (PTD) being exclusive for ethanol and requesting the EPA to somehow convince refiners to make an \u201cany alcohol\u201d PTD again.<\/p>\n
We may also see some states offer comments as they know their constituents want an ethanol-free gasoline especially in the RFG areas.\u00a0 There may be some discussion of pump labeling requirements as currently there are no federal requirements, and state requirements are not universal.<\/p>\n
We will likely hear from the makers of the Isobutanol-based gasoline about the need for registration to spur refiners and blenders to make more infrastructure available for making the gasoline.\u00a0 And we will see negative comments from the petroleum industry about having to make allowances for a new boutique fuel.\u00a0 Ethanol producers, who do have the capability of converting their facilities to make Isobutanol, will probably attack this product while defending their own product, and downplaying the negative effects of ethanol in gasoline.<\/p>\n
Outcome
\nI believe the outcome will be that EPA requires Tier 2 and 3 testing of the gasoline additive.\u00a0 Major industry groups will align themselves on one side or the other and this issue may well see opposing members agreeing with their historic foes.\u00a0 I believe that consumer demand will become apparent to the EPA which will hopefully cause reconsideration of the restrictions on the use of this fuel.\u00a0 As the legislation is founded in rules legislation, the EPA may be limited as to what they can do.\u00a0 I do not believe that the EPA will be able to change the PTD rule, despite the likelihood that any gasoline blendstock that qualifies ethanol for blending could also produce a gasoline within specification for isobutanol.\u00a0All in all, I think the comments will be educational and interesting and readers should expect to see a summary of these comments next month.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
About the Author:
\nJess Hewitt is a member of Lee Enterprises Consulting, the world\u2019s premier bioeconomy consulting group, with more than 100 consultants and experts worldwide who collaborate on interdisciplinary projects, including the types discussed in this article.\u00a0 The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and do not necessarily express the views of Lee Enterprises Consulting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened a comment period for the registration of the use of Isobutanol in gasoline.\u00a0 Why is this important?\u00a0 Because since the states banning of the use of MTBE and other ethers in underground tanks, this is the only oxygenate, other than ethanol, allowed to be used in commerce. This […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","nova_meta_subtitle":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[12366,12472],"supplier":[10342,1214],"class_list":["post-52379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bio-based","tag-fuels","tag-isobutanol","supplier-lee-enterprises-consulting","supplier-united-states-environmental-protection-agency-epa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52379"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52379\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52379"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=52379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}