Development of next generation biofuels, positive engine tests with furanics

FUEL 121

Ed DeJong, ed.dejong@avantium.com, Laszlo Sipos, laszlo.sipos@avantium.com, Jindra Purmova, and Gert-Jan Gruter, Gert-jan.gruter@avantium.com. Catalytic Biomass Conversion, Avantium Technologies BV, Zekeringstraat 29, Amsterdam, 1014 BV, Netherlands
By applying its advanced high-throughput R&D technology Avantium develops since a number of years a next generation biofuels, called “Furanics”, which can be derived from sugars and other carbohydrates. Avantium Furanics have advantegeous qualities over current biofuels, such as bioethanol and biodiesel. The company succesfully completed an engine test to demonstrate the potential of its novel biofuel. The test was carried out by Intertek, in Geleen, The Netherlands, an independent test center. Using a Citroën Berlingo with a regular diesel engine, Avantium tested a wide range of blends of Furanics with regular diesel. The test yielded positive results for all blends tested. The engine ran smoothly for several hours. Exhaust analysis uncovered a significant reduction of soot (fine particulates). On top of this, Furanics do not contain any sulphur, a significant environmental benefit compared to oil-based fuels.