Interesting point... have not given this much thought, but... One possible solution (pun intended) is a fuel gel.
The idea is that if you cut down on the leakage in the first place, and the leakage is not a huge problem to begin with but is there - then the by reducing leakage by what ? order of magnitude ? maybe, then the downside of butanol is less objectionable - in a risk vs rewards way. It could still be pumped at a station, but the pump would need to be modified. If spilled there would be a window of time when most of it could be sopped up. Most of us who have camped ... and that includes 'camped out in a buffet line' <g> are familiar with 'canned heat' aka 'sterno' http://zenstoves.net/Sterno.htm A gel for transport fuel would need to be injected - as the volatility has been removed; but actually that could become a 'feature' of this fuel - since direct injection, as with diesels, is much more efficient that a carb. It is even possible that by adding some 'structure' to the fuel with the gel, some 'extra' energy is available (the 'ordering' energy) ... after all, these sterno cans seem to last forever, while giving off the equivalent of what? 100 watts(th) per hour for 5-6 hours, mas o menos? try that with a battery. ... not to mention the calcium or other thixotropic agent might be 'active' ... Whataya think? ----- Original Message ---- From: Horace Heffner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> One downside to butanol is it is both toxic and water soluble, a very bad combination. This is the problem with another gasoline additive, MTBE. Gasoline spills not having MTBE are much easier to clean up, and less likely to actually get to well intakes in large quantity because gasoline is not water soluble and migrates upward in water. MTBE dissolves in water and thus fully contaminates aquifers it manages to reach. Cleanup is nearly impossible. The same would be true for butanol. There has been a movement to ban MTBE from use in fuels. I would guess oil companies would love to see a movement exist to ban a bio-fuel after much is invested in it. It seems to me ethanol would be a much better fuel, especially pure ethanol that is not denatured. That will of course never be available because it would be consumed and ruin the liquor business and liquor tax revenues. If the last depression is any indication, there is a high demand for ethanol in a depression. Alcohol is not banned now, but the taxes are high enough now that a de facto ban would exist in a depression. Are we headed back to the days of speakeasys, rum runners, white lightning, and back country stills? Will the product be drunk, or used as fuel? Only the future can tell for sure. Best regards, Horace Heffner http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
