Race on to develop pipes to transport ethanol

BISMARCK, N.D. – Outside of the debate over how big a role ethanol will have as a viable U.S. energy source has been the lingering problem of transporting the biofuel, which can eat away pipes used for traditional fuels.

Ethanol has not been shipped on a commercial scale in existing pipelines because its high oxygen content makes it too corrosive. It also absorbs water and impurities in pipelines.

Pipe companies that believe ethanol will be around for the foreseeable future have begun working to solve that problem.

Forbes