In News:

• The Government of India is exploring the possibility of blending isobutanol with diesel, following the limited success of earlier attempts at blending ethanol with diesel.
• At the annual conclave of the India Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced that the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is conducting trials to test the feasibility of 10% isobutanol–diesel blends. Alongside blending, isobutanol is also being considered for standalone fuel applications.
• This development comes at a time when India has been pushing for higher ethanol blending with petrol (20%), but challenges remain in extending the same success to diesel, which accounts for the bulk of transport fuel consumption.

About Isobutanol

• Chemical Nature: An alcohol with the chemical formula C?H??O and one of the four isomers of butanol.
• Physical Properties:
  • Clear, colorless liquid with a distinct odor.
  • Moderately soluble in water.
  • Highly flammable with a flash point just above room temperature.
  • Vapors are heavier than air, making handling risky.
• Health Hazards: Prolonged exposure can cause skin irritation, eye damage (including vision loss), and respiratory issues.

Applications of Isobutanol

• Industrial Uses: Widely used as a solvent in paints, coatings, lacquers, flavor and fragrance industries, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides.
• Food Additive: Approved for limited use; also found naturally in some foods and alcoholic beverages.
• Biofuel Potential:
  • Can be manufactured from plant-based sources using fermentation, often derived from ethanol.
  • Higher energy density (heating value) compared to ethanol.
  • Less corrosive and less hygroscopic than ethanol, enabling easier storage and transport in existing infrastructure.
  • High octane rating, making it suitable for internal combustion engines.
  • Unlike ethanol, it does not significantly distort vapor pressure when blended with gasoline.

Significance for India

• Energy Security: Diversifying biofuel options can reduce reliance on crude oil imports.
• Environmental Benefits: Biofuel adoption helps lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• Industrial Opportunities: Opens new avenues for sugar and bio-energy industries, which are central to India’s ethanol economy.
• Policy Alignment: Supports the government’s push towards alternative fuels and cleaner mobility under initiatives like the National Bio-Energy Mission.