Renewable Fuels

With energy at or near the top of the global state of mind the world has found itself searching for renewable sources of energy unparalleled pace. At the University of Kansas research related to variety of forms of renewable energy has been going on for several years. Our cross-discipline approach to energy research has allowed us to explore a variety of renewable energy sources as well as develop cutting expertise in the following areas:

• Catalysis
• Chemical and Biochemical synthesis
• Solvents for separation
• Separation technologies
• Biodiesel production and application
• Process Design
• Fuel testing, characterization, and evaluation
• Engine technology
• Fuel cells
• Emissions
• Solar and Nanotechnology
• Water recovery, treatment and recycling

• Biomass conversion:

Biomass materials (e.g. corn and soybean stalks, natural grasses, and wood waste) are being targeted as an alternative feedstock for conversion into biofuels. Additionally, biomass materials have the potential to become the feedstock for conversion into broad chemical platforms or intermediates which can be further refi ned into higher value chemicals for use in fuels, plastics, paints, coatings, solvents, etc.

The Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis at KU began a project in 2006 with an agribusiness company on conducting initial research into different catalytic pathways involving the use of biomass as feedstock for conversion into chemical platforms. The Center employs a multiscale approach (i.e., concurrent catalyst, solvent, and reactor engineering at all scales) implemented by a multidisciplinary team of faculty, postdocs and students. The project focus is on developing an integrated, economically viable system for the desired biomass conversion with optimized catalyst, media, and reactor design.

• Catalysis:

Catalysts are substances which speed up the conversion of raw materials to useful products. The action of a catalyst is termed "catalysis" and the manufacturing process that uses a catalyst is termed a "catalytic process". Many everyday products are manufactured using catalytic processes, including gasoline, detergents, synthetic fibers and pharmaceutical drugs.

KU Energy Council members working for the CEBC are have a vision to make available to industry .sustainable. manufacturing processes--in other words, improved processes that minimize their "environmental footprint" while remaining profitable. CEBC will accomplish this, for example, by reducing or eliminating the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing (including the catalysts themselves or hazardous solvents), minimizing the formation of wasteful byproducts, and by improving energy efficiency. In pursuit of its vision and research goals, CEBC will be guided by the principles of "Green Engineering" and "Green Chemistry".

• Bioreaction and enzymatic technologies:

This research focuses on the process intensification of enzymatic biotransformation processes in two phase liquid systems and associated downstream separations.

Applications include enzymatic modification of natural oils and fats via the production of fatty acids by hydrolysis. This approach is especially of potential value for splitting of sensitive triglycerides, unconjugated systems (which may undergo thermal degradation), hydroxylated fats and oils (which may dehydrate) or polyunsaturated oils with high iodine numbers (which may polymerise).

Another aspect involves new techniques for enzyme and cell stabilization, developed in collaboration with clinical biochemists which may provide some exciting opportunities for commercial diagnostic applications and for industrial enzymatic catalysis.

• Biorefining and other technologies for biomass:

Biorefining is a concept that converts biomass, including materials derived from plants, into biofuels, biomaterials and biopower (heat and electricity). The concept is similar to petroleum refining that uses crude oil to produce similar products. Members of the KU Energy council are actively working to develop biomass conversion technologies that are economically viable.

Scientists foresee "biorefineries" in agricultural areas, using biomass to produce renewable feedstocks that can replace petroleum in the manufacture of plastics, chemicals and other materials. Research in biorefining is valuable to industries that are dealing with the rising cost of petroleum feedstocks. A variety of useful products can come out of the biorefining process and in two to three decades, there will be an increasing shift toward alternate feedstocks such as biomass because of the depleting crude oil supply and increasing costs.

• Novel seperations:

Members of the KU Energy Council are helping develop a carbon-dioxide-based solvent that cuts down on both pollution and costs. The solvent will impact a number of industries, including agriculture and petroleum processing. It also will improve a number of products, such as synthetic fibers, antifreeze and bleach for dry cleaning.

• Integrated processing