A team of researchers, led by Professor. Charles E. Wyman of the University of California have discovered a new method to help turn agricultural waste, forestry waste and other vegetable sources into biofuels. This new method is considered non-toxic to the environment, high conversion efficiency and has been patented.
Accordingly, the key point of this approach is the use of tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a co-solvent, to help transform the biomass into fuels, primary and secondary. Then, the fuel will be converted into biofuels or chemicals.
Compared with other solvents, solvent THF is very suitable for the production of biofuels, by its relatively homogeneous when mixed with water and has a low boiling point.
Production methods mentioned above have many advantages that can combine multiple production steps back together. Thus, it minimizes the amount of water in the reaction, reduce heat and energy use, and improve the quality of fuels.
Source: VNEEP on 8/14/2014