A Concise Background on Fuel Oxygenates Fuel oxygenates are oxygencontaining compounds (e.g., ethers and alcohols) that are added to gasoline either to boost the octane rating, to make the fuel burn cleaner by increasing the oxygen content, or to achieve a combination of both. The most commonly used oxygenates are methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and ethanol. Other oxygenates include tertiary...

Alcohols and other low molecular weight oxygenates are known to be potentially valuable gasoline substitutes. While these are generally of interest in relation to the long-term need to secure future motor fuel supplies, there is a more urgent need for substitutes which will improve the octane rating of unleaded fuels. For environmental reasons, oxygenates including alcohols may be preferred to ...

A detailed chemical kinetic modeling approach is used to examine the phenomenon of suppression of sooting in diesel engines by the addition of oxygenated hydrocarbon species to the fuel. This suppression, which has been observed experimentally for a few years, is explained kinetically as a reduction in concentrations of soot precursors present in the hot products of a fuel-rich diesel ignition ...

In petrochemical analysis it is often not necessary to identify every compound in a sample. The boiling point distribution and group composition, e.g. aliphatic and aromatic groups or straight chain versus branched alkanes determine, to a large extent, the physical characteristics of fuels. The oxygenated group content of a fuel is another important parameter. It is believed that high oxygen co...

Pyrolitic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass, such as switchgrass and other agricultural residues, to bio-fuels is being considered for national energy security and for environmental advantages. Bio-oil, syngas and bio-char were produced and characterized from switchgrass at 400, 500 and 600 0C by pyrolysis. Bio-oil yield increased from 22 to 37%, syn-gas yield increased from 8 to 26%, and b...

In this study, immobilized CuAlO2 onto the ZSM-12&35 composite was prepared and used as a photocatalyst to remove N-containing oil pollutants (Carbazole) through advanced oxidation. In this method, acetone is used as a reaction solvent that can be partially converted to fuel oxygenates compounds (Octane enhancers) through an aldol condensation reaction. Photocatalyst characterization was perfor...

Continuing modifications of fuels like gasoline should include evaluations of the proposed constituents for their potential to damage environmental resources such as subsurface water supplies. Consequently, we developed a screening model to estimate well water concentrations and transport times for gasoline components migrating from underground fuel tank (UFT) releases to typical at-risk commun...

Introduction Hydrogen as a fuel has recently been an important issue due to developments in fuel cell technology. Hydrogen production from sustainable sources, e.g. biomass, is gaining attention for a CO2 neutral energy supply. Recent developments in flash pyrolysis technologies make it possible to convert lignocellulosic biomass efficiently to a bio-oil, which is easier for handling and transp...