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Harmonising Production, Properties and Environmental Consequences of Liquid Transport Fuels from Biomass—2,5‐Dimethylfuran as a Case Study
Author(s) -
Simmie John M.,
Würmel Judith
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201200738
Subject(s) - biomass (ecology) , biofuel , environmental science , biomass fuels , production (economics) , biochemical engineering , waste management , pulp and paper industry , engineering , ecology , economics , macroeconomics , biology
The rapid development in methods for transforming non‐edible biomass into platform chemicals and fuels has accelerated over recent years. However, the determination of whether these ‘next‐generation’ biofuels perform in a satisfactory manner in engines, turbines and burners has lagged behind. The evaluation of the ecological and toxicological aspects has also been unable to keep up. We show, by using 2,5‐dimethylfuran (DMF) as a concrete example, how a range of studies is needed to establish the benefits and risks of using a particular biofuel. In this regard, the variable with the largest impact about which little is known is probably the behaviour of DMF when it is accidentally introduced into groundwater. A primary consideration is to avoid a repetition of the methyl tert ‐butyl ether (MTBE) fiasco.