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A new process for producing gasoline through catalytic conversion of plant sugars

2009-03-25View Original

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The presence of oxygen in the molecular structure of ethanol introduces many disadvantages, such as lower volumetric energy, increased production costs due to the need for dehydration, and incompatibility with existing fuel production and distribution facilities. Now, innovative processes have been developed that can convert plant sugars into oxygen-free molecules, eliminating all those drawbacks. This new process is called the BioForming technology platform; it was developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and licensed to Virent Energy, which then made further improvements to it. A U.S. patent has already been applied for. The BioForming process uses catalysts and reaction systems similar to those in conventional oil refining, along with specially developed catalysts, to convert compounds derived from water-soluble sugars (such as polysaccharides, monosaccharides, polyols, and monohydric alcohols) into a mixture of water, hydrogen, gaseous fuels, and liquid hydrocarbons at moderate temperatures and pressures (1.0 MPa–9.0 MPa). Water, gaseous fuels, and excess hydrogen can be easily separated from liquid hydrocarbons in a simple phase separator, and can be recycled or collected for other uses. Depending on the process flow, liquid hydrocarbons can be used to produce gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, and other chemicals with essentially the same properties. Fuel gases such as propane can also be produced. Unlike other processes such as fermentation processes that rely on microorganisms and enzymes, the BioForming process is not limited to using a single plant sugar. By using different catalysts and process conditions, various sugars such as mixed sugars and polysaccharides can be reliably converted into the desired oxygen-free fuels. Analysis shows that, based on the carbon in the raw carbonaceous compound, the yield of the resulting hydrocarbons is 64% ; Based on the low calorific value of sugar, the yield of hydrocarbons from the product is over 94%. Biodiesel has higher energy than ethanol or butanol, and provides better thermal efficiency. The fuel produced using this process has a 20%~30% cost advantage over corn ethanol in terms of calorific value. Economic analysis shows that using this catalytic method to convert plant sugars into conventional liquid fuels makes it economically competitive with petroleum fuels when crude oil prices are above $60 per barrel. The fuels and chemicals produced using this catalytic process are the same as those produced from oil. When blended in high proportions with conventional gasoline, it is compatible with modern engines, fuel pumps, and pipelines, eliminating the need for additional investment in new infrastructure.

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