Ethanol

Ethyl alcohol – or ethanol – is produced by fermenting sugarcane. Cosan is one of Brazil’s largest producers of ethanol, with a production capacity of 1.7 billion liters in the 2008/09 harvest. In line with its commitment to environmental responsibility, it has invested in the fuel as a clean and renewable energy source, becoming a global reference point in production.

Cosan’s innovative potential in the industrial area is also part of its ethanol production process. The company has innovated by installing molecular sieves in its mills. This equipment makes it possible to produce anhydrous ethanol without the need to use the dehydrant cyclohexane, which produces a pure and non-polluting product.

Today Cosan exports about 30% of its ethanol production, comprising ethanol for industrial purposes, neutral ethanol and carburant ethanol. The company’s main clients are export and import companies that distribute the product to various countries.

On the domestic market, Cosan sells mainly anhydrous and hydrated carburant ethanol through fuel distributors in Brazil. Among these distributors are Petrobras Distribuidora S.A., Shell Brasil Ltda., Cosan Combustíveis e Lubrificantes S.A (Esso network), Texaco Brasil S.A. Produtos de Petróleo, and Cia Brasileira de Petróleo Ipiranga.

There follow below the types of ethanol produced by Cosan, and their uses:

Hydrated Carburant Ethanol

Used directly in vehicle engines.

Brazilian Standard Hydrated Ethanol

Used domestically and in the production of ether.

Japanese Standard Hydrated Ethanol

The same use as Brazilian standard, but it is a better quality ethanol which is in greater demand on the export market.

Neutral Hydrated Ethanol

The purest ethanol, and odor neutral, used for human consumption in cosmetics, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and so on.

Distill alcohol

Obtained through the mixture of neutral ethanol and demineralized water, creating a product with a lower alcoholic degree than hydrated neutral ethanol for the production of alcoholic beverages.