Bio-derived fuels have the potential to enhance performance when blended into conventional diesel fuels. An optimal diesel fuel rapidly ignites and exhibits high energy density, burns cleanly with minimal soot formation, possesses a high flashpoint to decrease flammability risks, and is water insoluble. Long-chain bioderived ethers are a promising class of oxygenated molecules that possess a high cetane number and energy density. However, significant data gaps remain with regards to their comprehensive fuel properties, particularly in the context of novel chemical structures that can be accessed from the hybrid biological and chemocatalytic upgrading of microbial carboxylic acids. Therefore, this talk will address the conversion viability and diesel blendstock fuel properties of ethers produced from upgrading microbial acids via ketonization, acid-to-alcohol reduction, and etherification chemistries. Using a combination of computational pre-screening and fuel property testing of commercial ethers, we identified promising ether candidates to target for synthesis and characterization. Catalytic upgrading and separations strategies were then developed to produce &gt;50 mL quantities of ether large enough for comprehensive fuel property testing. Finally, results of experimental fuel property testing were compared against predicted values to guide and determine validity and accuracy of these models.

Ethers derived from biobased carboxylic acids as a blendstock for diesel fuel

256th National Meeting (2018)

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