Biological Evidence 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 1-10 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 1 Review and Progress Open Access The Application of Ethanol Fuel: Taking the United States as An Example Yolanda Green Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, China Corresponding author email: 2644034884@qq.com Biological Evidence, 2024, Vol.14, No.1 doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0001 Received: 25 Dec., 2023 Accepted: 27 Dec., 2023 Published: 01 Jan., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Green, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Green Y., 2024, The application of ethanol fuel: taking the United States as an example, Biological Evidence, 14(1): 1-9 (doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0001) Abstract In recent years, with the increasing awareness of global environmental protection, the development of new energy has gradually become a focus of national policies and research. Ethanol fuel, as a renewable energy source, has been widely used worldwide due to its environmental, economic, and safety advantages, and has become an effective way to address national energy security and environmental protection issues. This review aims to explore the application of ethanol fuel in the United States, as well as its related policies, environmental and social impacts, and future development trends. Firstly, an overview of ethanol fuel is introduced, including its raw materials, production process, and common types of ethanol fuels. Next, the application of ethanol fuel in the United States is analyzed, including its historical and current development trends. Policies related to ethanol fuel are also discussed, including legislation and regulation, tariffs, and tax incentives. In addition, the environmental and social impacts of ethanol fuel are analyzed, including its demand for land and water resources and its impact on food prices. Finally, this review looks at the future development trends of ethanol fuel, including its future prospects and development trends, as well as competition and integration with other renewable energy sources. Keywords Ethanol fuel; United States; Application; Policy; Market demand Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) originated in the early 20th century and is currently the most popular biofuel on the world market. In the 1930s, fuel ethanol emerged as a gasoline additive in the United States, but it was not widely used at that time for various reasons. The impacts of two oil crises in the 1970s led to a global surge in oil prices and a slowdown in economic growth in industrialized nations, prompting increased emphasis on alternative energy sources that could reduce dependence on petroleum (Zhang et al., 2023; Zhou et al., 2023). During the first oil crisis of 1973, many countries recognized the strategic importance of fuel ethanol and began vigorously supporting the industry, especially in nations rich in biomass resources but lacking in petroleum reserves. Environmental concerns played a significant role in shaping policies and regulations favoring fuel ethanol. Currently, global fuel ethanol production stands at nearly 27 billion gallons, with the United States being the largest producer and consumer. In 2017, the United States produced nearly 15.8 billion gallons, accounting for 58% of the global production, surpassing the combined output of all other countries (http://www.las.hitech.cas.cn/cygs/201810/t20181015_453076.htm). Henry Ford used the term "fuel of the future" to describe ethanol. It is used as an alternative fuel for two primary reasons: it is produced from renewable agricultural products like corn, sugar, and molasses rather than non-renewable petroleum products, and it is less toxic than other alcohol-based fuels. The byproducts of incomplete oxidation of ethanol, such as acetic acid and acetaldehyde, are less toxic than those formed by other alcohol-based fuels. Ethanol fuel, as a novel clean energy source, has garnered widespread attention and research. It is considered a significant alternative to traditional petroleum fuels, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable development, and simultaneously fostering the growth of agriculture and industry. This review will use the United States as an example to explore and analyze the application of ethanol fuel. Firstly, an overview of ethanol fuel, including its raw materials, production process, and common types, will be introduced. Subsequently, the review will provide a detailed account of the application of ethanol fuel in the United States, discussing its historical development and current trends. It will also cover policies and regulatory
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