ClimateJuly 10, 2026
ethanol
/ˈɛθ.ə.nɒl/
Definition
A chemical compound used as an industrial fuel and solvent, which serves as a major source of carbon emissions that can be captured at the production facility.
Etymology
The word is a chemical formation combining 'ethyl' (from the Greek 'aithēr' meaning 'upper air') and the suffix '-ol' used to denote an alcohol. It was coined in the 19th century to describe the specific chemical structure of grain alcohol.
In the news
In this article, an ethanol facility is mentioned as a 'point-source' of carbon emissions, highlighting it as a location where carbon capture technology can be installed to mitigate greenhouse gas output.
Beyond Storage: How Captured Carbon Can Be Utilized
Read the full article ↗Bipartisan Policy Center