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Oral
Presentation 7-07 Ester
Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass Edwin
S. Olson, Ramesh K. Sharma, and Ted R. Aulich Energy & Environmental Research Center P.O. Box 9018 Grand Forks, ND 58202-9018 Telephone: (701) 777-5155; Fax: (701) 777-5181; E-mail: eolson@undeerc.org
Polar organic acids are easily produced in
bacterial fermentations, but substantial processing and cost are involved in
isolation and purification of the acids or neutralized salts produced in the
aqueous medium. Conversion of ammonium
carboxylate salts to esters is a feasible way to facilitate the
purifications. Earlier work at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture laboratories was successful for direct conversion of
ammonium salts to esters using higher alcohols but not for ethanol. An improved esterification procedure has
recently been effective for preparation of the ethyl ester from ammonium
lactate, and this method will lower the cost of ester production. Fuel characteristics have been determined
for a number of estergasoline blends with promising results for lowering Rvp
and raising octane numbers.
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