Ethanol mainly comes from plants that have high amounts of sugar, starch, and cellulose. Other sources of ethanol are sugarcane, sugarbeets, barley, and wheat.
In the United States, corn is the most common source of ethanol. The ethanol production process involves converting the starch or sugar from the plant into glucose which is then fermented using yeast.
After distilling to remove the impurities from the mixture of water and ethanol, the final product is clear and pure ethanol which is ready to use as a gasoline substitute.
Today, the US tops the largest ethanol-producing country in the world, followed closely by Brazil, and distantly by China, Argentina, Canada, and Thailand.