Determination of the renewable energy content of chemically modified biofuels

Toscano, G; Riva, G; Pedretti, EF; Duca, D

HERO ID

1111315

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2011

HERO ID 1111315
In Press No
Year 2011
Title Determination of the renewable energy content of chemically modified biofuels
Authors Toscano, G; Riva, G; Pedretti, EF; Duca, D
Journal Biomass and Bioenergy
Volume 35
Issue 7
Page Numbers 3139-3146
Abstract The recent EU directive on renewable energy sources (Directive 2009/28/EC) promotes the use of biofuel and bioliquids that could be produced through chemical processes. These biofuels consist of a biogenic (renewable) part and a non-renewable (fossil or non-biogenic) part. A method to evaluate the renewable and non-renewable energy fractions released during combustion is presented. The method is based on thermochemical criteria of bond dissociation energies and on the knowledge of the molecular structure of reagents and products. Its application to MTBE and ETBE analysis provided results that are close to those published in the directive. In particular, application of the method on these products points out a renewable fractions of 23.7% and 35.9% compared with the 22% and 37% listed by the RED. Moreover, the application of the method to products of the process production of FAME with use of fossil methanol, shows a fraction of non-renewable energy very low. For glycerol this value is 1.6% and for the methyl ester fraction of non-renewable energy depends on the type of molecule but always less than 2.4%. These findings could be used to devise correction criteria for the fiscal mechanisms being applied to these biofuels.
Doi 10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.04.010
Url http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0961953411002121
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Source: Web of Science 000292849200076
Is Public Yes
Keyword Biofuel; Renewable energy content; FAME; ETBE; MTBE
Is Qa No