Yet Another BioFuel Option: 2,5-Dimethylfuran
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.27.07
Investigators from the University of Wisconsin have presented "a catalytic strategy for the production of 2,5-dimethylfuran from fructose (a carbohydrate obtained directly from biomass or by the isomerization of glucose) for use as a liquid transportation fuel. Compared to ethanol, 2,5-dimethylfuran has a higher energy density (by 40 per cent), a higher boiling point (by 20 K), and is not soluble in water. This catalytic strategy creates a route for transforming abundant renewable biomass resources into a liquid fuel suitable for the transportation sector, and may diminish our reliance on petroleum."
"The team's method for making hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and converting it to DMF is a balancing act of chemistry, pressure, temperature and reactor design. Fructose is initially converted to HMF in water using an acid catalyst in the presence of a low-boiling-point solvent. The solvent extracts HMF from water and carries it to a separate location. Although other researchers had previously converted fructose to HMF, Dumesic's research group made a series of improvements that raised the HMF output and made the HMF easier to extract. For example, the team found that adding salt (NaCl) dramatically improves the extraction of HMF from the reactive water phase and helps suppress the formation of impurities."
Via:: Nature and UW Madison News Online
Two key energy balance points via:: Science Daily:
The DMF contains 90 percent of the energy found in the carbohydrate and hydrogen feed.Ethanol production creates 1.1 units of energy for every unit of energy consumed. This DMF process creates 2.2 units of energy for every unit of energy consumed.
The big potential drawback: because DMF has had little commercial potential to-date, its toxicology is not well understood. Therefore it is not possible state that hazards posed are acceptable in comparison to existing liquid fuel components. (Let's not forget the lessons the recent past with MTBE, or methyl tertiary butyl ether!)
DMF also has a rather complete entry in Wikipedia here. We recommend a look at the toxicology portion of that entry for a summary of what is known.
Other than that, DMF leaves ethanol in the ditch in terms of resource efficiency, from feedstock production through processing.
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
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- $5 Billion in Corn Ethanol Subsidies Should Be Eliminated, Food Before Fuel Urges
- 36 Gallons of Water Per Mile: Corn Ethanol Uses More Water Than Any Other Biofuel
I would be very careful about anything containing furans. dibenzofuran is regulated hazardous air pollutant related to dibenzodioxens. I would be a little concerned over the possibility of some sort of conversion or combining with a benzene ring to produce a benzo or dibenzofuran. Not so much in the end use combustion, but more so in the production of the fuel.
heh thats good, i read in the all trusting paper that ethanol is 40% efficient then oil petrol.
think we should get away from ICE as quickly as possible in general. there wont be any fuel that plants will 100% breath back in to grow, so we will fill this joint called earth with something in the long run. industry building is enough and its the slice we cant do without, but thankfully can be easily and quickly improve and usually recycle its product. exhuast is something that we cant.
except maybe hydrogen ICE, which would need pure oxygen to avoid nox. or a solution to scrub it.
ICE would be nice to keep around for the sake of motor sports, V8s and supercars. i certainly wouldnt buy a silent ferrari. but id buy a tesla in a heartbeat (if it were RHD).
(((australia)))