Lignocellulosic non-food biomass is a low-cost source of a wide range of upgrading products from anaerobically produced acids. In this work, we employ a “Fuel Property First” approach towards identifying a novel branched ether as an oxygenated diesel biomass-derived blendstock. By accounting for fuel properties of candidate molecules a priori, we gain valuable information towards accelerated development and implementation of high-performance biofuels. Focus on hydrocarbon production is an attractive option due to structural similarities to commercial diesel and utility as a drop-in fuel. However, using these diesel-comparable blendstocks limits the potential to exploit favorable properties outside of this more familiar chemical class. By leveraging this “Fuel Property First” approach, we were able to explore the products of C2 and C4 anaerobic acid upgrading, and quickly identify the performance advantages of oxygenates, such as improved ignition quality and significantly reduced sooting, as an alternative to hydrocarbon blendstocks. The mapping and pre-screening process also allowed for identification of flashpoint as a critical fuel property to inform ether pathway design. From here, we targeted a solvent-free etherification pathway towards high-volume continuous production of a branched C11 ether. This liter-scale production allowed for extensive fuel property testing and verification of the predicted advantaged fuel properties of cetane number, flashpoint, yield sooting index, lower heating value, boiling point, and melting point. By further confirming blend compatibility with diesel, low water solubility, stability during storage, and polymer compatibility within the engine and fueling infrastructure, we were able to successfully de-risk the use of this novel oxygenate product as an economically viable drop-in diesel fuel bioblendstock, as well as provide a successful proof-of-concept approach towards evaluation of a novel oxygenate for this application.

Continuous, solvent-free production of a performance-advantaged, infrastructure-compatible biooxygenate diesel blendstock

2019 Fall National Meeting

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