Mitglied werden
Accompanying environmental assessment within the Cluster Tailor-made fuels from Biomass at RWTH Aachen University

Lifecycle assessment of methyltetrahydrofuran, methylfuran and butanone as tailor-made fuel components

Preview of PDF File
Export BiBTeX

The Cluster “Tailor-made fuels from biomass” at RWTH Aachen University screens a wide variety of potential lignocellulose-based molecules with promising properties as fuel components. For four selected candidates detailed production routes were proposed and analysed based on conceptual process design:

  • 2- and 3- methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF)
  • 2-methylfuran (MF)
  • 2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone, MEK)

In internal combustion engines MTHF can serve as a diesel substitute, while MF and butanone are gasoline substitutes.

This report presents the results of a lifecycle assessment (LCA) which was carried out for three potential biorefinery concepts producing these fuels using woodchips as feed.