Direct upstream integration of biogasoline production into current light straight run naphtha petrorefinery processes. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Deneyer, Aron; Peeters, Elise; Renders, Tom; Van den Bosch, Sander; Van Oeckel, Nette; Ennaert, Thijs; Szarvas, Tibor; Korányi, Tamás; Dusselier, Michiel; Sels, Bert
• Is Part Of: Nature energy. Volume 3:Number 11(2018)
• Page Start: 969
• Page End: 977
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy development -- Periodicals; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Electric power systems -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1038/s41560-018-0245-6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2058-7546

Abstract

Abstract There is an urgent need to address environmental problems caused by our transportation systems, which include the reduction of associated CO2 emissions. In the short term, renewable drop-in fuels are ideal, as they allow a direct integration into the existing infrastructure. However, preferably they would perform better than current alternatives (for example, bioethanol) and be synthesized in a more efficient way. Here we demonstrate the production of biogasoline with a direct upstream integration into processes in existing petrorefinery facilities that targets the 10% bio-based carbon in accordance with the current European Union directives (for 2020) for biofuels. To achieve this goal, we show the valorization of (hemi)cellulose pulp into light naphtha using a two-phase (H2 O:organic) catalytic slurry process. A C5 –C6 alkane stream, enriched with bio-derived carbon and compatible with further downstream petrorefinery operations for (bio)gasoline production, is automatically obtained by utilizing fossil light straight run naphtha as the organic phase. The ease of integration pleads for a joint petro/bio effort to gradually produce bio-enriched gasolines, wherein the chemical compounds of the bio-derived fraction are indistinguishable from those in current high-quality gasoline compositions. Integrating biofuel production with petrorefinery operations offers potential efficiency savings, but is technologically immature. Here, Deneyer et al. use a two-phase catalytic process that converts (hemi)cellulose into light naphtha, utilizing petro-derived solvent streams to deliver a fuel containing 10% bio-derived carbon.