Well-to-tank data for advanced tailor-made biofuel alternatives

Paper in proceeding, 2017

The transport sector accounts for almost 25% of Europe's GHG emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. As part of the effort to increase the sustainability of the transport sector, and to reach the national vision for a vehicle fleet that is independent of fossil fuels by 2030 Sweden set of goals for an increased share of renewables in the transport sector, also following the EU target of at least 10% by 2020. The major goal, for the larger project, is to contribute with applicable data for promoting the best biofuel alternatives for a medium term future with both improved engine combustion concepts and sustainable production pathways. Feedstock potential and integration opportunities with existing industry infrastructure for improved techno-economic and environmental production performance will also be an inherent part of the biofuels analysis of WTT performance. In this literature review focus is on finding different relevant pathways for the production of biomass based drop-in fuels such as n-octanol, 2-ethyl-hexanol, n-decanol, 2-propyl-heptanol, DNBE, 2-MTHF, Caromax, and PolyDME (or POMDME or OME). To illustrate the methodology, one of the Diesel-like biofuels – 2-ethylhexanol – has been chosen and three different production pathways are analyzed for their energy performance. 2-ethylhexanol can be produced via the following three routes: (1)Butanol-based via Guerbet condensation, (2)Ethanol-based via the intermediate product n-butyraldehyde, and (3) Gasification-based via OXO-synthesis. The performance of the three routes will be compared to results for other biofuels serving as Diesel drop-in