Thermodynamic Properties of Propanol and Butanol as Oxygenate Additives to Biofuels

Abstract

Alternative and renewable energy technologies are being sought throughout the world to reduce pollutant emissions and increase the efficiency of energy use. Oxygenate second-generation biofuels fuels lead to a reduction in pollutant emissions and their thermodynamic and transport properties allow that the facilities for transport, storage and distribution of fuels could be used without modification. Higher alcohols, like propanol and butanol, enhance the octane number, boosting the anti-knock effect in gasoline. Then the compression ratio of the engines can be increased without risk of knocking, leading to higher delivery of power. From the combustion point of view, the production of carbon monoxide and volatile hydrocarbons from the combustion of alcohols is less than the one of gasoline. This chapter covers mixtures of butanol and propanol with hydrocarbons. The properties reviewed are excess volume or density (VE), vapour-liquid equilibrium (VLE), and heat capacity (C p).