The development of biofuel stoves is a first step in pulling this ‘green gold’ away from the automotive sector into the household sector. —World Health Organization (2006)
When used in properly designed appliances, alcohol fuels are the cleanest and safest of fuels. The household use of ethanol and/or methanol results in
• greatly improved air quality in kitchen and courtyard;
• safer handling;
• reduced danger of fires, burns, and explosions;
• better resource management and positive environmental effects;
• improved socioeconomic circumstances for developing households;
• improved safety and livelihoods for women in developing countries.
• Well-designed alcohol stoves produce little or no harmful particulates of carbon monoxide.
• Burning methanol emits just 10% of the carbon dioxide emitted by burning wood.
• A methanol stove produces only carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Alcohol fuels have a higher low-flammability limit (LFL) than hydrocarbon fuels, which means they do not burst into flame easily. The higher the LFL, the safer the fuel.
• At room temperature, ethanol has an LFL of 3.3%, and methanol’s is 6%. The LFL of kerosene is 1.7% (and can be lower); gasoline’s is 1.4%.
• Since ethanol and methanol vapors are less dense that those of the hydrocarbon fuels, they are less likely to accumulate at floor level. This reduces the risk of explosion.
• Ethanol and methanol flames radiate less heat. When burning outside a controlled environment such as a stove chimney, they produce a “lazy” flame that can often be extinguished by simply blowing it out.
• Water will readily extinguish an alcohol-fueled fire.
• Widely used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries, ethanol is not a toxicity hazard and does not require special handling.
• Denaturing ethanol and methanol by adding colorant, odorizer, and a bitter taste makes the fuels unpalatable and readily identifiable. These agents also give the flame a blue color, making it more visible in daylight.
• Methanol is much less toxic than petroleum fuels. Gasoline is considered more hazardous to human health than pure methanol.
• Skin contact with methanol should not cause significant concern. Methanol evaporates quickly and cleanly, and leaves no residue.
• Methanol poses no known cumulative health hazard and is not classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic. It poses little threat of chronic toxicity.
Alcohol fuels have no negative effects on the environment.
• Ethanol and methanol mix readily with water and degrade rapidly in the environment.
• Ethanol and methanol are essentially nontoxic to many aquatic plants and animals.
• Ethanol and methanol burn to produce carbon dioxide, water, trace carbon monoxide, oxide of nitrogen, and formaldehyde.
• Alcohol fuels do not produce smoke or soot.
• Burning methanol will dramatically reduce household carbon monoxide. It will also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) production by about 83%, compared to burning non-replaced forest stock for fuel.
• Use of alcohol fuels reduces deforestation and makes more efficient use of resources by turning a no- or low-value product into a clean, safe, affordable household fuel.
• When an alcohol stove is used, the need for women and girls to collect fuelwood for cooking is vastly reduced, and sometimes removed completely (if they can use the stove for all their cooking).
• Women and girls no longer have to walk long distances facing the threats of attack and physical injury.
• The time saved gathering fuelwood can be used for other activities such as, education, child care, income generation, and health care.
Making clean fuels. . .
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