Biofuels kopio 1

2.2.1 Biofuels

Biofuels are liquid or gaseous transport fuels, such as biodiesel and bioethanol, made from biomass. They serve as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels in the EU's transport sector, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and secure supply availability in the EU. By 2030, the EU aims to increase the share of renewable energy in transport to at least 14%, including a minimum share of 3.5% of advanced biofuels. EU countries are required to set out an obligation for fuel suppliers that ensures the achievement of this target.

Objectives:

An introduction to biomass properties and potential. Overview of main conversion processes, raw materials and biofuel product properties.

 

Programme: 2.2.1 Biofuels (BF) (6 ECTS):

a. Setting the scene (0.75 ECTS): fuels today (liquid, solid, gaseous, applications, sustainability, fuel properties/standards, emissions), oil refinery vs. biofuels.

b. Introduction to biofuels (0.75 ECTS): common biofuels, sustainability, application,  biofuel properties, benefit and disadvantages.  

c. Biomass chemistry (0.75 ECTS): lignocellulose, fats and lipids, sugars composition, key reactions, chemistry of biomass conversion and catalysis.

d. Biofuel processes (0.75 ECTS):  general overview of processes, platform chemicals.

e. Biomass monomer production and pre-treatment (0.75 ECTS): methods, sugar conversion to ethanol, non-sugar monomers derived from lignin and conversion, triglyceride upgrading, fame, HDO, Processes, product properties and applications .

f. Gasification (0.75 ECTS):  chemistry, reaction pathways, reactors, gas conditioning. 

g. Synthesis gas (0.75 ECTS): reactions, hydrogen production, methanol process,  Fisher-Tropsch synthesis (reactions and products, catalysts, reactors). 

h. Bio-oils production and upgrading (0.75 ECTS): introduction to biomass pyrolysis and liquefaction, typical products and their properties, reactors and processes, upgrading of bio-oil (hydrotreating and other techniques).        

 

Suggested textbook or literature:

G.W. Huber, S. Iborra, A. Corma, Synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass: Chemistry, Catalysts and engineering, Chem. Rev. 106 (2006) 4044-4098