From our Readers...

Topics covered under Vol 3 of your newsletter are precise, and cover the technical and commercial aspects with regard to ethanol use. The newsletter is very enlightening and its frequency should be monthly, if not fortnightly, so that we may also benefit from your enriched experience and professionalism.

Mr Shailendra Mohan, MD, Shakumbari Sugar & Allied Industries Limited, UP

Vol 4 has come out very well. Please also include marketing options for ethanol in both Indian and foreign markets, with a focus on quality standards and national and international rates for ethanol.

Mr Sampanna Mutalik, Manager - Admin. & Marketing, Samsons Distilleries, Karnataka

This newsletter highlights useful areas related to every strata of ethanol use – international experiences, ethanol R&D and production, etc. We would like more information on ethanol as an additive in diesel for vehicles and the feasibility of ethanol production from cane in India.

Mr MN Chakravarty, Director (Tech), Dimensions Engineering Consultants, New Delhi This issue is very important for the ethanol and motor fuel industry, as gasohol is not only going to renew energy but will also reduce vehicular pollution/emissions and dependency on foreign currency. Concerned agencies must be approached aggressively to coordinate/facilitate the use of fuel ethanol.

Mr UC Sharma, Vice President Saraya Distillery, New Delhi

This newsletter is very interesting and gives information on how biofuels are going to affect the Indian alcohol industry that is essentially grain-based. More articles on the impact of biofuels on grain-based plants and the implementation of ongoing research for biomass conversion should be incorporated.

Mr Jairaj A Doshi, Director Zytex (India) Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi

Excellent! Such newsletters help us keep abreast with the latest trends and give overall information about the relevant areas and technological advances too.

Mr Rajaram P Kamath, Manager - Management Services, Gem Sugars Ltd, Bangalore

Very informative and excellent coverage; keeping us updated on the current trends. Would like more information on topics related to bio-diesel and gravity ratio for running heavier vehicles, especially ethanol-specific gravity ratio for larger and heavier vehicles and their advantages and disadvantages.

Mr D Ravindranath, Executive Director Wilson Distilleries Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore

We are a leading producer of sugar in Tamil Nadu, and have a 3,000-TCD sugar plant and a 45-klpd distillery. Presently we are studying the feasiblity of producing absolute alcohol and would appreciate your response on the following:

• Technologies available for producing absolute alcohol from rectified spirit and from molasses, and their merits and demerits.
• The azeotropic method of producing absolute alcohol makes use of benzene/cyclohexane as entrainers. Are these harmful to the environment, and what is the minimum permissible level prescribed by the pollution control boards?
• Availability of cyclohexane in the domestic market and its cost/kg (landing cost including duties/taxes, etc).

P Zaman, Dy Manager (Technical Services), Kothari Sugars & Chemicals Ltd, Tamil Nadu

I am a student of Pravara Engg. College, Loni of Pune University. I am presenting a seminar on "Ethanol as Fuel" and would like to request for copies of the ‘Ethanol 2002’ international conference held at New Delhi in January 2002 organized by Winrock International India. Abhijit Pawar, BE (Mechanical) PEC Loni