Supercritical reactors for the production of advanced bio-fuels: A review

Abstract

Advanced biofuels, when used as components in fuels, offer advantages over fossil-based hydro-carbons and conventional biofuels to realize highly efficient and clean propulsion systems. Among the several chemical routes to produce biofuels, special attention is given to gas-liquid heterogeneous catalyzed reactions to reduce carbohydrate derived platform building blocks. Supercritical reactors offer opportunities to enhance yield of these type of reactions. In this review, we present studies that take advantage of supercritical technologies to reduce platform biobased molecules. In addition, we discuss related high-pressure phase equilibrium experimental data and modeling tools available, as well as the gaps and needs, for engineering supercritical reactors to produce advanced biofuels. Due to the possibility of tuning solubility with density, opportunities arise in the use of supercritical fluids in combined reaction and separation processes. In this regard, the design of less energy intensive processes is needed to boost the production of advanced biofuels.