Green Gasoline from Sugar and Carbohydrates

摘要

Today most petroleum refineries are facing the challenge of producing motor gasoline that has the desirable properties and also complies with the ever increasing environmental regulations and health restrictions on automotive emissions. The environmental regulations were created in order to reduce volatile organic compounds, toxic nitrogen oxides, and automotive and airplane emissions. The most challenging task for the fuel producers was to create a green gasoline. In September 2008, two separate research teams announced that they have managed to convert sugar-potentially derived from agricultural waste and nonfood plants into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and a range of other valuable chemicals. Chemical engineer Randy Cortright and his colleagues at Virent Energy Systems of Madison, Wisconsin, a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research awardee, and researchers led by NSF-supported chemical engineer James Dumesic of the University of Wisconsin at Madison.