Which biofuel is commonly blended with gasoline to reduce emissions and is produced by fermenting sugars in crops like corn or sugarcane?

• A. Biodiesel
• B. Biogas
• C. Methanol
• D. Ethanol

Answer: (D)

Ethanol is the biofuel that fits this description because it is produced by fermenting sugars found in crops like corn or sugarcane and is widely blended with gasoline to lower emissions and boost octane. The fermentation process converts the sugars into ethanol, a renewable alcohol, which can mix with gasoline in various proportions (such as E10, E15, or E85) depending on the vehicle and region. This blend reduces overall tailpipe emissions compared to pure gasoline and helps reduce fossil fuel use, while leveraging well-established agricultural supply chains and fermentation technology.

Biodiesel is made from fats and oils and is blended with diesel fuel, not gasoline. Biogas is primarily methane produced from anaerobic digestion and isn’t typically used as a direct gasoline additive. Methanol is another alcohol used as a fuel in some contexts, but it is not the standard product of fermenting crops for gasoline blending in the way ethanol is.