Biomass is converted into biogasoline, biodiesel, biokerosene and other biomass.

Using independent investigation methods, two groups of scientists announced that they had been able to convert sugars – likely derived from inedible plant biomass – into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and several other chemicals.

According to the discoveries, sugars and carbohydrates can be processed to generate a wide range of products to supply the fuel, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Today, these products are produced from oil processing.

High energy density of gasoline

“Even when solar and wind power, as well as nuclear and clean coal, become highly advanced, and cars are electric or hybrid, we will still need the high energy density of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel for planes, trains, trucks and boats.

“The processes developed by these teams are excellent examples of the ways that will enable sustainable production of this fuel,” celebrated John Regalbuto, of the US National Science Foundation, which supported both studies.

Randy Courtright and his colleagues patented the new process on September 9. James Dumesic’s team described the same approach on September 18, and the research will remain published in the journal Science.

Water stage repair

The key to discovery is the process that both Domesic and Courtright call Water stage repair.

By passing a watery paste of plant sugars and carbohydrates through a series of catalysts—which speed up reactions without being corroded in the process—the carbon-rich biomass molecules are separated into components that combine to form the same chemical compounds obtained from oil processing.

Between the sugar or starch that enters the process and the hydrocarbon compounds that are ultimately generated, the chemical compounds pass through an intermediate stage in the form of an organic liquid consisting of functional compounds.

“The intermediates retain 95% of the biomass’ energy, but only 40% of its mass, and can be converted into different types of fuel for the transportation sector, such as gasoline, jet fuel or diesel,” explains James Dumesic.

“More importantly, the formation of this functional intermediate oil does not require an external source of hydrogen,” he adds, noting that the process itself generates the necessary hydrogen.

While the reported results are significant, the process is not yet advanced enough to build a renewable fuel refinery. The researchers will now adapt the process to industrial production levels.