Organic Fuel Additive May Make Fuels Cleaner and More Efficient

A new study on thermal decomposition of a potential fuel additive has shown that it could make biofuels cleaner and have more efficient combustion.

Scientists have been researching additives made of oxygenated organic compounds that could help reduce the release of pollutants into the atmosphere as well as increase the efficiency of combustion of fuels. Researchers from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia have learned how these potential additives decompose under combustion.

Diethyl carbonate (DEC), which is 40.6% oxygen by mass, has the potential to facilitate clean combustion of diesel fuels. KAUST scientists evaluated the effects of pressure and temperature on the decomposition of DEC to understand its decomposition. They found that DEC had a significant effect on the decomposition of organic esters, lowering the reaction energy and increasing its reactivity.

These findings will present more knowledge on the application of biodiesel fuels to modern diesel engines and engine hybrids. Furthermore, it will also clarify the blending effect of esters and carbonates with conventional fuels.