Biomass alcoholysis to butyl levulinate and valorisation as additive in ci internal combustion engine

Lignocellulosic biomass represents an abundant and inexpensive renewable carbon source for chemicals and transport fuel preparation. In this paper, the solution butanol (n-BuOH)/butyl levulinate (BL)/dibutyl ether (DBE) was studied as additive fuel in compression ignition (CI) internal combustion engine (ICE). The mixture was directly obtained by the catalytic alcholysis reaction of the cellulose fraction of raw and pretreated biomasses (such as Arundo donax L., Eucalyptus nitens and Pinus pinaster) with n-BuOH. Biomass pretreatments can efficiently remove hemicellulose and lignin, making the residual cellulose fraction very cheap. n-BuOH is a biomass-based renewable alcohol that can be produced by the fermentation of the biomass feedstock or by condensation of bioethanol. The cellulose fractions were valorised by the alcoholysis reaction using n-BuOH and diluted inorganic acid as homogeneous catalyst, thus obtaining BL from cellulose together with DBE as main by-product deriving from n-BuOH etherification. The ternary mixture n-BuOH/BL/DBE was directly tested as blended with Diesel in a CI-ICE. Therefore, the engine performances and pollutant emissions were measured. Finally, it was evidenced the CO, NOx and PM emission reduction potential of the novel blending mixture, while a negligible performance reduction of the ICE was obtained.