Alcohol:
Denomination of a type of ternary chemical compounds, consisted of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It presents one or more hydroxyls linked to radical alcohyl. The word alcohol is used to denominate the ethyl alcohol or ethanol.

The technology of alcohol production basically determines the existence of two types:

a) ANHYDROUS ALCOHOL - with an alcohol graduation above 99.3º INPM, this type of alcohol does not tolerate the significant presence of water. It can be used in industrial applications as a reactive, solvent, in the manufacture of aerosols and environment deodorants. However, its most general application is as fuel, mainly as an additive to gasoline, improving the combustion, due to the increase of the octanage and the presence of oxygen in the alcohol molecule, reducing the pollution through a lesser release of carbon monoxide.

b) HYDRATED ALCOHOL - with alcoholic graduation around 93.2º INPM, it can be used in some applications, such as manufacture of liquor, vinegar, perfumes, cleaning products and, mainly, as automotive fuel. This is the fuel of the modern flex-fuel cars, also known as hybrid cars.