and Robbins 2012; Mueller et al. 2009; Szybist et al. 2005; Rajasekar et al. 2010),
while others have shown no increase or even a decrease (Coniglio et al. 2013).
Renewable diesel fuel derived from either hydrotreating vegetable oils is more
compatible with existing engine technology than first-generation biodiesels, thus
leading to improved engine performance (Knothe 2010; Gill et al. 2011). These
renewable fuels have effectively equivalent energy densities as petroleum-derived
fuels, due to the lack of oxygen content and similar hydrogen-to-carbon ratios
(Probstein and Hicks 2006). The cetane numbers are quite high, so that the
straight-chain fuel must be blended with lower-quality fuels for use in diesel engines
(Dry 2002a) or be branched via oligomerization reactions to a cetane number around
50 for use as a pure diesel fuel (Dry 2002b). Blending FT synthetic diesel with
FAME biodiesel or petroleum diesel is used to improve also the lubricity of the fuel
(Gill et al. 2011); otherwise to be used pure, the FT diesel needs to be mixed with
specialized aromatic additives (Corporan et al. 2011). The high cetane number of FT
or hydrotreated-renewable-diesel fuels and their lack of aromatic content are considered to be the primary factors responsible for the observed decrease in NOx, soot,
unburned hydrocarbon, and CO emissions and increase in thermal efficiency, compared to conventional diesel (Szybist et al. 2005; Knothe 2010; Gill et al. 2011).
References
Abubackar HN, Veiga MC, Kennes C (2011) Biological conversion of carbon monoxide: rich
syngas or waste gases to bioethanol. Biofuels, Bioprod Biorefin 5:93–114
Agarwal AK (2007) Biofuels (alcohols and biodiesel) applications as fuels for internal combustion
engines. Progr Energy Comb Sci 33(3):233–271
Albers SC, Berklund AM, Graff GD (2016) The rise and fall of innovation in biofuels. Nat
Biotechnol 34:814–821
Aleiferis PG, Serras-Pereira J, Richardson D (2013) Characterisation of flame development with
ethanol, butanol, iso-octane, gasoline and methane in a direct-injection spark-ignition engine.
Fuel 109:256–278
Al-Hasan M (2003) Effect of ethanol-unleaded gasoline blends on engine performance and exhaust
emission. Energy Conver Manag 44(9):1547–1561
Arnold M, Tainter JA, Strumsky D (2019) Productivity of innovation in biofuel technologies.
Energy Policy 124:54–62
Assman G, Blasey G, Gutsche B, Jeromin L, Rigal J, Armengand R, Cormary B (1996) Continuous
progress for the production of lower alkyl esters. US Patent No. 5,514,820.
Balat M (2011) Production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic materials via the biochemical
pathway: a review. Energy Convers Manag 52:858–875
Balki MK, Sayin C, Canakci M (2014) The effect of different alcohol fuels on the performance,
emission and combustion characteristics of a gasoline engine. Fuel 115:901–906
Barbanera M, Lascaro E, Foschini D, Cotana F, Buratti C (2018) Optimization of bioethanol
production from steam exploded hornbeam wood (Ostrya carpinifolia) by enzymatic hydrolysis.
Renew Energy 124:136–143
Bergthorson JM, Thomson MJ (2015) A review of the combustion and emissions properties of
advanced transportation biofuels and their impact on existing and future engines. Renew Sustain
Energy Rev 42:1393–1417
BiofuelsDigets (2017) Ground delay: where are the sustainable aviation fuels? http://www.
biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2017/02/20/ground-delaywhere-are-the-sustainable-aviation-fuels/
1 Biofuels: Types and Process Overview
29
while others have shown no increase or even a decrease (Coniglio et al. 2013).
Renewable diesel fuel derived from either hydrotreating vegetable oils is more
compatible with existing engine technology than first-generation biodiesels, thus
leading to improved engine performance (Knothe 2010; Gill et al. 2011). These
renewable fuels have effectively equivalent energy densities as petroleum-derived
fuels, due to the lack of oxygen content and similar hydrogen-to-carbon ratios
(Probstein and Hicks 2006). The cetane numbers are quite high, so that the
straight-chain fuel must be blended with lower-quality fuels for use in diesel engines
(Dry 2002a) or be branched via oligomerization reactions to a cetane number around
50 for use as a pure diesel fuel (Dry 2002b). Blending FT synthetic diesel with
FAME biodiesel or petroleum diesel is used to improve also the lubricity of the fuel
(Gill et al. 2011); otherwise to be used pure, the FT diesel needs to be mixed with
specialized aromatic additives (Corporan et al. 2011). The high cetane number of FT
or hydrotreated-renewable-diesel fuels and their lack of aromatic content are considered to be the primary factors responsible for the observed decrease in NOx, soot,
unburned hydrocarbon, and CO emissions and increase in thermal efficiency, compared to conventional diesel (Szybist et al. 2005; Knothe 2010; Gill et al. 2011).
References
Abubackar HN, Veiga MC, Kennes C (2011) Biological conversion of carbon monoxide: rich
syngas or waste gases to bioethanol. Biofuels, Bioprod Biorefin 5:93–114
Agarwal AK (2007) Biofuels (alcohols and biodiesel) applications as fuels for internal combustion
engines. Progr Energy Comb Sci 33(3):233–271
Albers SC, Berklund AM, Graff GD (2016) The rise and fall of innovation in biofuels. Nat
Biotechnol 34:814–821
Aleiferis PG, Serras-Pereira J, Richardson D (2013) Characterisation of flame development with
ethanol, butanol, iso-octane, gasoline and methane in a direct-injection spark-ignition engine.
Fuel 109:256–278
Al-Hasan M (2003) Effect of ethanol-unleaded gasoline blends on engine performance and exhaust
emission. Energy Conver Manag 44(9):1547–1561
Arnold M, Tainter JA, Strumsky D (2019) Productivity of innovation in biofuel technologies.
Energy Policy 124:54–62
Assman G, Blasey G, Gutsche B, Jeromin L, Rigal J, Armengand R, Cormary B (1996) Continuous
progress for the production of lower alkyl esters. US Patent No. 5,514,820.
Balat M (2011) Production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic materials via the biochemical
pathway: a review. Energy Convers Manag 52:858–875
Balki MK, Sayin C, Canakci M (2014) The effect of different alcohol fuels on the performance,
emission and combustion characteristics of a gasoline engine. Fuel 115:901–906
Barbanera M, Lascaro E, Foschini D, Cotana F, Buratti C (2018) Optimization of bioethanol
production from steam exploded hornbeam wood (Ostrya carpinifolia) by enzymatic hydrolysis.
Renew Energy 124:136–143
Bergthorson JM, Thomson MJ (2015) A review of the combustion and emissions properties of
advanced transportation biofuels and their impact on existing and future engines. Renew Sustain
Energy Rev 42:1393–1417
BiofuelsDigets (2017) Ground delay: where are the sustainable aviation fuels? http://www.
biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2017/02/20/ground-delaywhere-are-the-sustainable-aviation-fuels/
1 Biofuels: Types and Process Overview
29