Germany approves ethanol use in disinfectant production

Germany's bioethanol industry has approved the use of undenatured ethanol in the production of disinfectants in an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Several producers have begun switching to neutral alcohol production from bioethanol production, although it is unclear how much ethanol is being diverted from fuel production.

Germany's industry federation BDBe said it has put the measures into place following guidance by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to loosen manufacturing specifications in order to expand production of disinfectant products.

German bioethanol producer Verbio said it has begun producing hand sanitizer from bioethanol at its Zoerbig plant, which would usually be used to produce fuel ethanol. It has not said how much fuel ethanol production had been diverted.

Fellow German-based producer CropEnergies said last week that it would partially switch production from fuel alcohol to neutral alcohol for disinfectants. The firm had also previously appealed to the German federal ministry of finance to remove tax hurdles for the use of undenatured ethanol as a disinfectant.

CropEnergies told Argus that it is evaluating how much of its output it could potentially switch to disinfectant production.

French sugar and ethanol producer Tereos said last week that five of its factories — in Artenay, Origny-Sainte-Benoite, Lillers, Morains, and Nesle — would completely switch production to hand sanitizer. Again, no details were given on the production capacities.

European renewable ethanol association ePure said it supported a co-ordinated response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Across the EU, our member companies are cooperating fully with national authorities where needed to ensure the production and supply of ethyl alcohol for hand sanitizer and other hygienic uses, including by unlocking stocks and increasing production to respond to higher demand and by producing hand gel," it said.

By Daniel Mackay