Synthesis of Biofuel Additives from Ethanol

Project Goal: Design a process for an environmentally beneficial fuel additive that can be added easily onto an existing ethanol plant to improve its profitability.

Biofuels come from renewable biological materials, such as ethanol from corn, grass, biomass and algae and diesel from soybeans. Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels or blends can cut down on some aspects of fossil fuel production and use, resulting in decreased conventional and greenhouse gas emissions, exhaustible resource depletion, and dependence on foreign suppliers. The EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, encourages ethanol manufacturers to produce biofuel additives cost effectively.

Using an existing corn-based, dry mill ethanol plant, this design synthesizes diethyl ether, or DEE, a highly rated biofuel additive. The catalyzed synthesis process requires minimal equipment and energy, reducing initial costs and making it a viable option for an ethanol plant. The project further evaluated profitability based on DEE’s market value and RFS incentives.