Synthesis of the components of engine fuels on the basis of renewable raw materials: Trends and prospects

The basic methods for obtaining the components of engine fuels using the most commonly encountered type of raw materials, i.e., biomass polysaccharides, are discussed. The emphasis is placed upon two groups of methods of the conversion of polysaccharides: the heat treatment of the biomass with the subsequent processing of the resulting biopetrol with the conversion into the components of fuels using a hydroprocess and the selective conversion of monosaccharides into compounds that are subsequently used as components of fuels (along with hydrocarbons). Data on the synthesis of a new class of high-octane components of alcohol-containing fuels, i.e., ketals derived from polyols such as glycerol and pentoses, are given. It is shown that the effective catalysts of this process are some zeolites and ion-exchange resins.