Innovative Chemistry for Renewable Commodities
Ever increasing political pressure for a cleaner environment has triggered large research efforts in the past decade to develop new, greener fuels. It is now recognized that the addition of acetal to diesel and gasoline fuel greatly improves the environmental properties of engine exhaust. Engine particle emissions are greatly reduced, as well as CO and NOx emissions.
Acetal is recognized as a suitable diesel component in high proportions in biodiesel, thereby making it a promising alternative. Furthermore, acetals are envisaged to be used to convert glycerol, a by-product in biodiesel production, into glyceroacetal, which is recognized as a valuable diesel component.
Acetal can be synthesized via electrolytic conversion of ethanol in ionic liquids at moderate conditions with very little required energy.
BUILDING SELF SUSTAINABILITY
FeyeCon aims to develop optimal processing so that investment in a unit converting bioethanol into acetal would allow for small and large scale production at comparable processing costs. Small scale production would allow for regionally produced bioethanol and thereby greater regional self sustainability.
Research has proved the successful synthesis of acetal from ethanol under mild condition. Our processing demonstrates a good yield and no significant by-products were generated. During processing the electrochemical conversion consumes electricity, which we envisage to be locally produced renewable energy (hydro, solar, wind, biomass), thereby making the electricity consumed CO2 neutral. Moreover the process consumes CO2 and co-produces CO, which can be utilized for a number of downstream products. Product separation is done by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.
