Starting with acetone derived from plants, scientists at Los Alamos are converting this simple molecule into jet fuel using a novel process that uses light. This has the potential to be blended with regular jet fuel to offer a greener option
Take biomass-derived acetone—common nail polish remover—use light to upgrade it to higher-mass hydrocarbons, and, voila, you have a domestically generated product that can be blended with conventional jet fuel to fly while providing environmental benefits, creating domestic jobs, securing the nation’s global leadership in bioenergy technologies, and improving U.S. energy security.
“This process allows us to transform a natural product into a fuel additive, improving the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel,” said Courtney Ford Ryan, a postdoctoral fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory and lead author of a paper out in preprint form in the journal Sustainable Energy and Fuels.
“We converted bio-derived acetone to isophorone and then used a UV lamp to convert it to a cyclobutane, a type of hydrocarbon with high energy density for fuels applications,” Ryan said.
There are many challenges in using acetone for fuels applications, the paper’s authors note. Its volatility precludes its direct use as a fuel, and it requires chemical upgrading to be suitable for introduction into the fuel supply, as acetone has a nasty habit of dissolving engine parts and O-rings. So by upgrading the initial product to a cyclobutane, a potentially safer and more energy-dense fuel is created, while reducing the hydrogen input required for upgrading a bio-derived feedstock.
“Reducing high-pressure hydrogen treatment in synthesizing renewable fuels is important, because most hydrogen is derived from using steam to reform natural gas, which generates carbon dioxide,” she said. Next, more work is needed to make a catalyst that could do it using sunlight, Ryan noted.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Acetone for fuels
- What Is Ethanol-Free Gas, And Should You Use It In Your Car?
Most gasoline at the gas pump in the U.S. is typically mixed with an ethanol blend, though ethanol-free gasoline is available, and can be used by your car.
- Solketal Industry Projected to Skyrocket to US$ 108.4 Billion by 2032, Fueled by Global Shift Towards Biofuels
The global solketal industry was worth US$ 76.85 Billion in the year 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 108.4 Billion by the year 2032 at a CAGR of 3.5% between 2022 and 2032. The solketal market is ...
- TV Doctor Michael Mosley tell us everything we need to know about the Keto Diet
Ketosis turns you into a fat-burning machine' - TV Doctor Michael Mosley reveals everything we need to know about ketosis and the Keto diet ...
- Warren Buffett 'got it wrong' on California fire risk, PG&E CEO says
PG&E CEO disputes Warren Buffett's warning on California wildfires, stating the state's efforts have reduced both physical and financial risk.
- The Race for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The global race is on for existing and prospective sustainable aviation fuel. Those words from the Oil Price Information Service, which held ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Acetone for fuels
[google_news title=”” keyword=”acetone for fuels” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Biomass-derived acetone
- Biomass feedstock prices in the U.S. 2023, by product
Average price of biomass feedstocks in the United States as of October 2023, by product (in U.S. dollar per ton) Characteristic Price in U.S. dollar per ton ...
- Biomass carbon capture project hits roadblocks in McFarland
A Midwestern-based company has suspended a novel effort to turn local green waste into energy while burying the byproduct carbon dioxide deep under McFarland. Late last month, San Joaquin ...
- Earth Talk: What about biomass?
Why hasn’t biomass caught on more as a renewable energy source? – PJ, via email Answer: Biomass is organic material derived from living or recently living organisms like plants, animals and ...
- Biomass Burning News
Japan and South Korea are increasingly burning biomass, such as wood pellets, to make energy, with potentially adverse impacts on the global climate, deforestation and biodiversity.
- Risk of COPD from Exposure to Biomass Smoke: A Metaanalysis
Background: Although many studies have suggested that biomass smoke is a risk factor for COPD, the relationship between the two has not been firmly established. In particular, the extent of the ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Biomass-derived acetone
[google_news title=”” keyword=”biomass-derived acetone” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]