Alcohols such as methanol and ethanol are crucial for various applications, particularly in the chemical industry and as fuel components. Ethanol, which today is mainly produced from biomass, already contributes significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the road-based transportation sector. However, the direct and pure use of renewable alcohols in various transportation sectors is associated with problems due to their hygroscopic properties and lower energy density. While blending with hydrocarbons is possible in road transport, it is not suitable for aviation. The conversion of these alcohols into long-chain hydrocarbons such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel offers a viable solution that fits seamlessly into the existing fuel infrastructure. This paper analyses the process routes from alcohol to hydrocarbon components and demonstrates their potential to defossilize the mobility sector. The alcohol-hydrocarbon route is not yet being implemented on a commercial scale. One of the main obstacles is the relatively higher cost of such alcohols compared to the price of fossil fuels and the possibility of using such alcohols directly for road-based transportation without further processing.

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Alcohol to Hydrocarbons

  • Steffen Voß,
  • Stefan Bube,
  • Nils Bullerdiek,
  • Ulf Neuling,
  • Martin Kaltschmitt

摘要

Alcohols such as methanol and ethanol are crucial for various applications, particularly in the chemical industry and as fuel components. Ethanol, which today is mainly produced from biomass, already contributes significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the road-based transportation sector. However, the direct and pure use of renewable alcohols in various transportation sectors is associated with problems due to their hygroscopic properties and lower energy density. While blending with hydrocarbons is possible in road transport, it is not suitable for aviation. The conversion of these alcohols into long-chain hydrocarbons such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel offers a viable solution that fits seamlessly into the existing fuel infrastructure. This paper analyses the process routes from alcohol to hydrocarbon components and demonstrates their potential to defossilize the mobility sector. The alcohol-hydrocarbon route is not yet being implemented on a commercial scale. One of the main obstacles is the relatively higher cost of such alcohols compared to the price of fossil fuels and the possibility of using such alcohols directly for road-based transportation without further processing.