by Introduction
Alcohol has been an integral part of industries for many decades now. While alcohol is generally associated with recreational uses, industrial alcohol plays a very important role in various manufacturing processes and products. In this article, we will discuss in detail about industrial alcohol, its types, uses, production process and contribution to the industrial growth over the years.
Types of Industrial Alcohol
There are mainly three types of industrial alcohol used widely in industries:
Ethyl Alcohol: Also known as ethanol or grain alcohol, ethyl alcohol is the most common type used for industrial purposes. It is produced through fermentation of sugars mainly from grains like corn, sugarcane etc. Ethyl alcohol finds applications as a solvent, fuel, antifreeze and more.
Methyl Alcohol: Also known as methanol, wood alcohol or wood spirits, methyl alcohol is lighter than ethyl alcohol. It is produced either from natural gas or carbon monoxide. Methyl alcohol is used to produce biodiesel, solvents, antifreeze etc.
Isopropyl Alcohol: Chemically known as isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol has strong solvent properties. It is generally produced by hydration of propylene. Isopropyl alcohol is used as a solvent, cleaner, disinfectant and more.
Wide range of applications
Industrial alcohol finds uses across many industries due to its solvent properties and ability to dissolve oils, fats, resins, alkaloids and other organic compounds. Some of its key applications include:
– Pharmaceutical industry: Used as a solvent for extraction and purification of drugs and medicinal compounds.
– Paints and coatings industry: Acts as a solvent and thinner for paints, varnishes, lacquers etc. Helps dissolve resins and pigments.
– Printing industry: Used as a cleaner and purifier for machinery. Also acts as a solvent for inks.
– Automotive industry: Used as an antifreeze in radiators and as a cleaning agent. Also used in fuel additives.
– Personal care products: Found in cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, disinfectants, sanitizers and more as a solvent.
– Food industry: Used for extraction of essences from plants and flavorings. Also helps dissolve food colors and flavors.
– Laboratories: Ubiquitous solvent in chemistry, biochemistry and other labs for extraction and purification processes.
– Fuel: Ethanol is blended with gasoline to produce biofuel, which provides better combustion efficiency and is better for the environment.
Production and distribution
Industrial alcohol is majorly produced through fermentation of grains like corn, sugarcane or molasses. In fermentation, yeast converts starch or sugars into ethanol with carbon dioxide as a byproduct. The resulting liquid containing 5-20% alcohol is distilled several times through column stills to obtain pure alcohol. Methyl alcohol is generally produced from natural gas, biomass or carbon monoxide. Large producers own fermentation and distillation facilities to produce industrial alcohol in bulk which is then transported via rail, road or ship to consumers. Proper handling, storage and distribution ensures safe and regulated supply of alcohol for industrial uses.
Contribution to industries and economy
Industrial alcohol has significantly contributed to the growth of key industries and global economy over decades. Some notable contributions include:
– As a versatile solvent, it has enabled large-scale industrial production processes across sectors.
– Fuel blending with ethanol has reduced dependence on imported oil and decreased emissions.
– Provided raw material for many downstream chemical industries producing paints, coatings, solvents, fuels etc.
– Creation of jobs in production, distribution and manufacturing industries that use alcohol as a feedstock.
– Contributed significantly in GDP through taxes from alcohol production and industries that depend on it.
– Stimulated agricultural economy by creating huge demand for feedstock like grains, sugarcane used for alcohol fermentation.
Conclusion
To summarize, industrial alcohol has transformed several industries with its diverse applications and properties. Starting from acting as a cleaner and solvent in laboratories to enabling fuel production, alcohol is an indispensable industrial material. With growing industrialization globally, the demand for industrial alcohol is expected to steadily increase in the coming years. Proper regulation is maintained to ensure its efficient production and end-use in commercial applications only.
