Energy aspects of neutral solvents biosynthesis and use
Neutral solvents, which include 1-butanol, 2-propanol, ethanol, and acetone, can be made from a wide variety of raw materials by bacterial fermentation. These materials generally have a slightly higher fermentation energy yield from a given substrate than does ethanol. Hydrogen is produced as a fermentation offgas. Separation energy balances are improved by means of a miscibility gap between 1-butanol and water and a high product volatility. Neutral solvents use complements emulsified fuels technology, which will soon be fielded by the U.S. Army, and which is being investigated for the FAA. In their current investigations, 1 to 20% water is emulsified, together with surface active agents and antimist compounds, in diesel fuel. A new process, fualex, or fuel alcohol extraction, uses hydrocarbons such as those found in fuels, together with a surfactant, to extract neutral solvents from fermentation broths. The resultant high-alcohol emulsion can be separated to remove alcohols or directly used in fuels. Potential advantages of the use of the retained water include lower NO /SUB x/ and particulates and an improved energy balance.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 5153760
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-801210-
- Journal Information:
- Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Journal Name: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN ALESD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ACETONE
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOSYNTHESIS
BUTANOLS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
COLLOIDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ETHANOL
EXTRACTION
FERMENTATION
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
KINETICS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NET ENERGY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
PROPANOLS
REACTION KINETICS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENTS
SURFACTANTS
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
US DOD
US DOT
US FAA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER
YIELDS