Is bio-alcohol-based fuel oil toxic?

Fuel based on bioethanol is toxic.

Its main components are methanol, ethanol, butanol and so on. The content of methanol is generally as high as 95%, which solves the problem of methanol volatilization. Its safety is embodied in full combustion, no black smoke, no carbon deposit, no residue, no corrosion, easy storage at room temperature, and cleanliness. Even if there is a fire, it can be put out with water, and there is no case of steam poisoning caused by leakage.

However, this does not mean that this thing will not have an accident if it is eaten by mistake! In the case of eating alcohol-based oil by mistake, methanol will be metabolized into formaldehyde and formic acid by human body. At first, it will feel drunk. But unlike ethanol (alcohol), there are alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in human body, so drinking alcohol is only a physical difference, and it will eventually be metabolized into carbon dioxide and water (unless it exceeds the capacity of the liver), while methanol will not!

Methanol itself will produce paralytic toxicity to nerves; The formic acid produced after dehydrogenation will destroy the myelin sheath of optic nerve, damage the optic nerve and lead to blindness; Formic acid has a strong acidity, which will cause acidosis and renal failure when it enters the blood. Another product, formaldehyde, is not only one of allergens, but also has genetic toxicity, which is easy to cause nuclear gene mutation and chromosome damage. In 2006, it was classified as 1 grade carcinogen.