Title:
From Waste Biomass to Bio-fuel: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach to Ethyl Levulinate Production
Author(s):
Bonaldi, L., Fulignati, S., Francesconi, M., Frigo, S., Raspolli Galletti, A.M.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
To date, the transport sector remains greatly reliant on fossil fuels. This dependence significantly contributes significantly to atmospheric CO2 emissions and associated environmental impacts. In response, biofuels offer a sustainable and feasible alternative, being compatible with existing internal combustion engines. Among emerging biofuels, alkyl levulinates (ALs) have gained great attention and, in particular, ethyl levulinate (EL), being fully renewable and already successfully employed as bio-blendstock in Diesel engines. This study explores the production of EL from two food supply chain wastes: thick juice (TJ), a low-value intermediate of sugar production, and bread waste (BW), a widely available food industry residue. The use of wastes and their derivatives as feedstock is a key point in enhancing both the sustainability and economic feasibility of large-scale biofuel production, in agreement with the circular economy approach. The one-pot acid-catalysed alcoholysis reaction was performed, using ethanol both as a reagent and solvent, and diluted H2SO4 as a cheap commercial homogeneous catalyst. Finally, the potential of EL as a gasoline bio-blendstock was experimentally evaluated using EL blends up to 10 vol%.
Keywords:
biofuel, circular economy, internal combustion engine, thick juice, bread waste, ethyl levulinate
Topic:
Biomass Conversion to Biomaterials and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Co-production of biofuels and biochemicals
Event:
33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
6BO.11.4
Pages:
1093 - 1099
ISBN:
978-88-89407-25-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-6BO.11.4
Price:
FREE
