The Effect of Functional Groups in Bio-Derived Fuel Candidates

Rhodri W Jenkins; Cameron M Moore; Troy A Semelsberger; Christopher J Chuck; John C Gordon; Andrew D Sutton

doi:10.1002/cssc.201600159

The Effect of Functional Groups in Bio-Derived Fuel Candidates

ChemSusChem. 2016 May 10;9(9):922-31. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201600159. Epub 2016 Apr 21.

Authors

Rhodri W Jenkins¹, Cameron M Moore¹, Troy A Semelsberger², Christopher J Chuck³, John C Gordon¹, Andrew D Sutton⁴

Affiliations

¹ Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS K558, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA.
² Material Physics Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS K793, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA.
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
⁴ Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS K558, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA. adsutton@lanl.gov.

PMID: 27099975
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201600159

Abstract

Interest in developing renewable fuels is continuing to grow and biomass represents a viable source of renewable carbon with which to replace fossil-based components in transportation fuels. During our own work, we noticed that chemists think in terms of functional groups whereas fuel engineers think in terms of physical fuel properties. In this Concept article, we discuss the effect of carbon and oxygen functional groups on potential fuel properties. This serves as a way of informing our own thinking and provides us with a basis with which to design and synthesize molecules from biomass that could provide useful transportation fuels.

Keywords: biofuel; biomass; fuels; renewable; review.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Biofuels*
Biomass
Carbon / chemistry
Oxygen / chemistry

Substances

Biofuels
Carbon
Oxygen