A5007198695- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Biodiesel Production and Applications
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Catalysis for Biomass Conversion
- Catalysis and Hydrodesulfurization Studies
- Global Energy and Sustainability Research
- Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
- Zeolite Catalysis and Synthesis
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Lignin and Wood Chemistry
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy
- Nuclear Engineering Thermal-Hydraulics
- Environmental and Industrial Safety
- Energy Efficiency and Management
- Polymer composites and self-healing
- Technology Assessment and Management
- Radioactive element chemistry and processing
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering Research
- Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Process Optimization and Integration
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Metallurgical Processes and Thermodynamics
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
2018-2024
Sandia National Laboratories
2021
University of Delaware
2013-2016
Center for Innovation
2016
Significance To meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), conversion pathways are needed that leverage wet waste carbon and jet fuel property specifications. Here, we demonstrate SAF production from food waste–derived volatile fatty acids (VFA) by targeting normal paraffins a near-term path to market branched isoparaffins increase renewable content long term. Combining these distinct paraffin structures was shown synergistically improve VFA-SAF flash point viscosity blend...
Microalgae possess numerous advantages for use as a feedstock in producing renewable fuels and products, with techno-economic analysis (TEA) frequently used to highlight the economic potential technical challenges of utilizing this biomass biorefinery context. However, many historical TEA studies have focused on conversion elevated levels carbohydrates lipids lower protein, incurring substantial burdens ability achieve high cultivation productivity rates relative nutrient-replete,...
Lignocellulosic biomass offers a renewable carbon source which can be anaerobically digested to produce short-chain carboxylic acids. Here, we assess fuel properties of oxygenates accessible from catalytic upgrading these acids priori for their potential serve as diesel bioblendstocks. Ethers derived C2 and C4 are identified advantaged candidates with significantly improved ignition quality (>56% cetane number increase) reduced sooting (>86% yield index reduction) when compared commercial...
Green pathways for nonisocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) production have attracted increasing levels of interest. The reaction between 5-membered cyclic carbonate and polyamines is one the most promising to produce NIPU polymers. Though promising, major technical hurdles such as slow polymerization rate poor performance hinder commercialization NIPU. In this paper, we screened several commercially available triglyceride oil feedstocks products, focusing on kinetics product industrial...
Abstract To reach the goals set by US Department of Energy's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge, currently available feedstocks may be insufficient. Giving priority to developing, prototyping and reducing cost algal feedstock before investing lining up locations is important. As production advances, a simplified conversion approach using more mature technologies can help reduce investment risk for algae‐based fuels. Reducing process complexity steps described here [namely,...
The development of microalgal biorefineries, utilizing high-value coproducts, offers a strategy to lower production costs, while the use saline-tolerant species contributes reducing freshwater consumption. This study evaluates...
Recent techno-economic analysis (TEA) has underscored that for algal biofuels to be cost competitive with petroleum fuels, co-products are necessary offset the of fuel production. The co-product suite must scale production while also maximizing value from non-fuel precursor components. depends on biomass composition, which is highly dynamic and environmental conditions during cultivation. Intentional shifts in composition cultivation often associated reduced productivity, can increase...
Economic and environmental favorability are vital considerations for the large-scale development deployment of sustainable fuels. Here, we have conducted economic sustainability analyses pathways producing bioblendstocks optimized improved combustion mixing-controlled compression ignition (MCCI) engines. We assessed 25 production target fuels from renewable feedstocks techno-economic analysis (TEA) life cycle (LCA) to determine which bioblendstock candidates likely be viable given a slate 19...
Inhibition of p-xylene isomerization in the presence H-Y (Si/Al 2.6) and H-BEA 12.5) zeolites was studied under conditions relevant to production from 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) ethylene. Through examination reaction components, it shown that both DMF 2,5-hexanedione inhibit transalkylation methyl shift reactions p-xylene, while other water ethylene, do not. Retention Brønsted acid sites after through use 27Al NMR for zeolites, but with a reduction ratio tetrahedrally coordinated aluminum...
We developed a single-phase Pd/NbOPO<sub>4</sub>catalyst for reductive etherification that displays high catalytic activity, product selectivity, and regeneration stability.
Early stage research and development are needed to accelerate the introduction of advanced biofuel engine technologies. Under Co-Optima initiative, U.S. Department Energy is leveraging capabilities from its nine national laboratories more than 35 university industry partners including computational tools, process design, data analysis, economic sustainability modeling tools simultaneously design fuels engines capable running efficiently in an affordable, scalable, sustainable way. In this...
Biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals is crucial decarbonization, but choosing an advantageous upgrading pathway out of many options challenging. Rigorously evaluating all candidate pathways (process simulation, product property testing) requires a prohibitive amount research effort; even simple schemes have hundreds possible permutations. We present method enabling high-throughput screening by approximating unit operations drop-in compatibility products (e.g., fuel properties) apply it...