Bioethanol – or simply 'ethanol' is a renewable energy source made by fermenting the sugar and starch components of organic matter – mainly sugarcane, potatoes, and crops like grain. Depending on the agricultural structures of the producing country, it might also be made from milk, corn, rice, banana, grapes or even dates.
Today, bioethanol has many uses: Blended with petrol it makes transport fuel more sustainable, the cosmetics-, medical- and food industries use it in their production processes, and – last but not least – used in Decoflame fireplaces, it creates a beautiful dancing flame with a clean combustion.
When burning, bioethanol is dissolved into water and vapour carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants. It is then processed via photosynthesis to help the plant grow. This infinite cycle of creation and combustion of energy – in a way a recycling of energy – makes bioethanol a carbon-neutral fuel.
Due to the clean combustion of bioethanol, neither a flue nor a chimney are needed for Decoflame fireplaces – all the heat created is kept indoors. That is what makes bioethanol fires highly effective and efficient.
Bioethanol is classified as a Flammable Liquid Class 1B (for Flammability) and Class 3 PGII (for Transportation) and is regulated by various standards around the world. Before operating a Decoflame bioethanol fire, please familiarise yourself and comply with these regulations in order to safely and legally store, handle, decant and use this fuel.
In line with various global regulations bioethanol of 100% purity cannot be sold in order to avoid human consumption. Ethanol is therefore denatured with varying substances for retail purposes. It might be traded under names like Denatured Ethanol, Methylated Spirits, Denatured Alcohol, and others.
All Decoflame bioethanol fireplaces can be operated only with bioethanol of at least 96% but max. 97.5% purity. We recommend Decoflame bioethanol, which has an alcohol percentage of 96.5%.