ABSTRACT
The 35 years of Brazilian experience with production and use of ethanol fuel from sugarcane has been widely discussed in literature, and mostly, its positive contribution to reducing CO2 emissions compared to gasoline. The chief concern of major centers and agencies, as well as the current discussions of modern societies on alternative sources of energy, revolves round the need to fi nd renewable fuels that are more environment friendly, given the negative impacts caused by the production and use of fossil fuels.
