Lifecycle assessment of methyltetrahydrofuran, methylfuran and butanone as tailor-made fuel components

The Cluster “Tailor-made fuels from biomass” at RWTH Aachen University screens a wide variety of potential lignocellulose-based molecules with promising properties as fuel components. For four selected candidates detailed production routes were proposed and analysed based on conceptual process design:

• 2- and 3- methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF)
• 2-methylfuran (MF)
• 2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone, MEK)

In internal combustion engines MTHF can serve as a diesel substitute, while MF and butanone are gasoline substitutes.

This report presents the results of a lifecycle assessment (LCA) which was carried out for three potential biorefinery concepts producing these fuels using woodchips as feed.