E85Forum.com

rebelman · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 31 Location: North Carolina

I know this forum is supposed to be for ethanol but I think that all biofuels are important to lessen the dependence on forgein oil. I wanted to know if anyone in the forum has heard of the biofuel being developed by BP and Dupont. It's called Biobutanol and it is supposed to replace gasoline drop for drop but still burn clean and improve performance.

Revision · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Carol Stream, IL

There is a news thread about it somewhere. There is also a discussion going on about it in the greencarcongress.. It is suppose to be less octane than E85 and there seems to be a conversion cost issue. ie it is more expensive than E85.

There was some talk about using biobutanol to replace MTBE, but it looks like the oil refiners are happy to just use 10% ethanol.

IIRC biobutanol is made from biostocks and is a 4 hydrocarbon chain like gasoline which is why it runs the same AFR. No one is talking about the exact method used to convert ethanol stocks into biobutanol. Rolling Eyes

If someone knows anything more, please post.

1outlaw · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Central Wisconsin

Bp plans to make Butanol from sugar beets by the process they are working with Dupont on. Butanol claims are similar mileage to gasoline and not have an affinity for moisture absorption which would allow it to ba shipped via pipeline. However- it is unlike ethanol in that it is very toxic but I suppose if you put it in gas- will that be a concern??? MTBE (a chemical alcohol) was a problem that way and one does have to be careful handling Methanol too.

hsd0006 · Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Western Illinois

I've read up on biobutanol. It seems like a dream come true until you look at the effects colder weather has on it. It gels up a little like biodiesel. In my opinion, a good end-game liquid fuel solution would be something like 50% ethanol and 50% biobutanol. The ethanol will keep it from freezing up.

Alcohol · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 634 Location: Central Wisconsin

hsd0006 · Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Western Illinois

Alcohol · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 634 Location: Central Wisconsin

Thanks hsd0006- I wonder if the Butanol octane rating is for 1 butanol or t butanol. The MON (motor) number is not impressive. If you do the RON+MON/2= (AON) formula you only get 87. I is my understanding that a low MON # will make the AON dececeptive and can lead to preignition.
If this is the correct octane #, then east of the Rockies- oil companies would need to use a higher octane (sometimes more expensive) 87 base fuel than the 85 suboctane they sometimes use.

mtbottle · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 46 Location: West Virgnia

Butanol does have some possibilities, but there is a huge hurdle. Distilling butanol is not near as efficient as ethanol. Due to its characteristics it will kill off the yeast culture at much lower yields as ethanol. About 1/2 the concentration. That makes it much more expensive to make.
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Duane Combs

Fredster · Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 111