Did you know that bioethanol fireplaces are an environmentally conscious way to stay warm and cozy during the cold winter months? Indoor and outdoor fireplaces can run on bioethanol, a sustainable fuel made from plants.

Bioethanol is an alternative to conventional fuel sources such as wood or propane for specially engineered fireplaces. Not only is bioethanol better for the environment, it also offers a variety of other benefits compared to more classical options. These fireplaces create real flames, without any of the messy soot or ash.

In this article, we’ll explain:

•       What is bioethanol?
•       How do ethanol fireplaces work?
•       What are the benefits of using bioethanol for indoor and outdoor fireplaces?

What is bioethanol?

Bioethanol is a type of ethanol. Or we should say, it is exactly ethanol on a molecular level. What differentiates bioethanol is that it has been derived from a biological source, such as sugarcane, corn, or another plant.

Remember that the process of fermentation requires a sugar substrate to produce ethanol and water. In the production of bioethanol, manufacturers exploit this process by adding yeast to a crop such as grain or sugarcane. In the United States, corn is a common starting material because it is an abundant crop, while in other countries such as Brazil, sugarcane is more readily available. There are pros and cons to both types of bioethanol.

Bioethanol intended as a fuel source often undergoes an additional process known as denaturation. That means that a poisonous substance is added to the ethanol to discourage drinking. Depending on the denaturant, it may also change the color and odor to indicate that this alcohol should not be consumed. This puts it in a different tax category, which helps to keep prices down.

Denaturation usually follows a specific TTB formulation (of which there are several), depending on the intended application. For example, Lab Alley sells bioethanol for fireplace fuel formulated according to TTB formulation for CDA 20 (completely denatured alcohol). The CDA 20 formulation consists of 98.0% pure grain ethanol, with just 2.0% hydrocarbon solvents by volume.

The quality of the bioethanol chemical reagent is of particular importance for ethanol/bioethanol fireplaces. Provided the bioethanol is high quality and high purity, there should be minimal odor. Therefore, it is important to always source your bioethanol fuel from a reliable source that can guarantee top quality chemicals.

The use of bioethanol fireplaces

Ethanol fireplaces, which are also called bioethanol fireplaces, are fireplaces engineered such that they can take ethanol for fuel instead of conventional fuel sources like wood and propane. These types of fireplaces, which can be indoor or outdoor, can run exclusively on ethanol without a supplementary fuel source.

The operator simply adds ethanol to the burner to initiate the burn. This creates real fire flames, which emit heat, and can last for about four hours (depending on the flame size, which is also controllable).

These fireplaces do not produce soot or ash, nor do they produce smoke or carbon dioxide/ carbon monoxide. In other words, there is no mess, and there is no issue with reduced air quality when operating this type of fireplace.

Benefits of bioethanol for indoor/outdoor fireplace fuel

▪          Clean burning compared to conventional fuel sources like wood, meaning no smoke, no soot, no ash

▪          Low odor compared to alternatives, due to the use of highly pure 200 proof ethanol

▪          Long burning time, due to use of highly pure 200 proof ethanol containing almost no water

Where to buy fireplace bioethanol

As your trusted partner in chemical supply, Lab Alley is always striving to meet the growing demands of our customers. We want you to be able to access all of your chemical needs in one place, along with streamlined online ordering and fast shipping.

Due to popular demand from our valued clientele, Lab Alley has just added a new bioethanol product to our offerings. Our new bioethanol fuel is perfect for use in indoor and outdoor fireplaces.