The researchers say, as a country rich in agricultural production and plantation, Indonesia has the potential to develop bioethanol as a gasoline substitute.

This was revealed by the research team members from the Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Teddy Nurcahyadi, in Yogyakarta, Friday (25 / 9).

“Even in the future, conversion into bioethanol fuel can be a solution to the depletion of oil content,” said Teddy.

According to him, bioethanol can be an option in reducing environmental damage as a side effect of the development of industry and transportation. He said there are several advantages possessed bioethanol fuel than gasoline, partly because the production process more environmentally friendly and involved planting vegetation that absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In addition, the use of bioethanol as fuel for motor vehicles, further Teddy, more environmentally friendly because it produces less pollution.

“Bioethanol also has a number higher octane than gasoline, so when mixed with gasoline with a particular composition can improve engine performance,” he said.

He added, high octane number of bioethanol has a good effect on engine emissions. High octane number cause combustion in the engine lasted more perfect that the result of imperfect combustion of carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons burned no less.

“Mixing of bioethanol in gasoline based on test results proved to decrease pollution caused carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons do not burn from gasoline engines,” he said.

Bioethanol, he said, is one type of renewable fuel. This fuel can be produced from various types of agricultural or plantation products, such as sugarcane, cassava, rice, wheat, sorghum, potatoes, corn, and fruits.

“As long as we are still able to grow crops, during which we also can process the various products into bioethanol,” he said.

However, Teddy admitted, bioethanol is a technical weakness. The weakness is due to the fuel contain a lower energy than gasoline.

“The way out to overcome the existing weaknesses, our teams are interested in doing research in an effort to overcome the technical weaknesses of bioethanol for fuel that can be used more leverage in the future,” he said.