After 'e-diesel', Audi develops 'e-benzin' - a green fuel from plants

Last month, Audi surprised the whole world when they claimed that they produced diesel from carbon dioxide and water, naming it as Audi e-Diesel Is Produced From Water And Carbon Dioxide But for cars operating on gasoline as fuel, Audi has come up with an innovative technique. This time Audi has claimed that they've developed gasoline from plants. Known to be 'e-benzin', this synthetic fuel has been developed in France by Audi's project partner Global Bioenergies. The high grade fuel obtained from the plants is free of benzene and sulphur and produces no dangerous smoke. Marking this invention as the historic innovation of all time, Global Bioenergies' CEO Marc Delcourt proclaimed that they are aiming to add 'green' in the world that requires green-ness.

image

The work began in 2014 by setting up a fermentation unit to produce gaseous isobutane (a raw material obtained from petrochemical industries) from corn-derive glucose (a kind of biomass sugar). The material was passed through conditioning and purification unit and the stored under heavy pressure in the form of liquid. Some part of the final product obtained was converted into isooctane fuel which produced hundred octane gasoline.

However, according to German automaker, the isooctane obtained is currently being used to improve quality of the existing fuel, but the company believes that it can be used as a stand alone fuel in the near future. In future, e-benzin will be tested in vehicles after performing some tests on conduct engine and fuel composition.

image

The next big aim of both the companies is to produce gasoline from only carbon dioxide, sunlight, water and hydrogen. Audi is building a new demonstration plant to produce isooctane and high-purity isobutane in Germany, that will be ten times as big as that of France (shown above).

Do you find this new innovative way of producing gasoline worthy of being an alternative green fuel? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

source: #-Link-Snipped-#

Replies

  • Shashank Moghe
    Shashank Moghe
    This part,

    "
    The work began in 2014 by setting up a fermentation unit to produce gaseous isobutane (a raw material obtained from petrochemical industries) from corn-derive glucose (a kind of biomass sugar). The material was passed through conditioning and purification unit and the stored under heavy pressure in the form of liquid. Some part of the final product obtained was converted into isooctane fuel which produced hundred octane gasoline.

    However, according to German automaker, the isooctane obtained is currently being used to improve quality of the existing fuel, but the company believes that it can be used as a stand alone fuel in the near future.
    "
    is confusing! Does it mean that iso-octane is e-benzin?
  • Coral Jain
    Coral Jain
    Iso-octane obtained from the condensation and purification of isobutane can eventually produce gasoline. This product i.e. Gasoline is known as 'e-benzin' because it is free from benzene and other harmful gases. E-benzine has not been tested for tis complete use. So, researchers are using isooctane currently.
  • Sheikh Aamir Farhan
    Sheikh Aamir Farhan
    i loved this new innovative way of producing fuel
    since, the world today is in great need of such an innovation,yhis may give a mass impact to fuel demand and supply.
  • Coral Jain
    Coral Jain
    Sheikh Aamir Farhan
    i loved this new innovative way of producing fuel
    since, the world today is in great need of such an innovation,yhis may give a mass impact to fuel demand and supply.
    Indeed. Such an amazing innovation from renewable sources of energy.
  • Shashank Moghe
    Shashank Moghe
    Coral Jain
    Iso-octane obtained from the condensation and purification of isobutane can eventually produce gasoline. This product i.e. Gasoline is known as 'e-benzin' because it is free from benzene and other harmful gases. E-benzine has not been tested for tis complete use.
    Great!

    Coral Jain
    So, researchers are using isooctane currently.
    Well, iso-octane is the representative hydrocarbon for Gasoline with a 100% octane rating. The gasoline we use in our vehicles is a blend of several other hydrocarbons.
  • Coral Jain
    Coral Jain

    This part,

    " However, according to German automaker, the isooctane obtained is currently being used to improve quality of the existing fuel, but the company believes that it can be used as a stand alone fuel in the near future. "

    Explains that neither isooctane nor e-benzin has been put to use alone. Isooctane is in use right now to make better quality. E-benzin would be used in future. Isooctane would be use along with other hydrocarbons right now. In future, company will test e-bezin.
  • Shashank Moghe
    Shashank Moghe
    Coral Jain
    Iso-octane obtained from the condensation and purification of isobutane can eventually produce gasoline. This product i.e. Gasoline is known as 'e-benzin' because it is free from benzene and other harmful gases. E-benzine has not been tested for tis complete use. So, researchers are using isooctane currently.
    This was your response, which as you said in the previous comment, is not correct. That is all I pointed out since that last statement is confusing.
  • Shashank Moghe
    Shashank Moghe
    Also, it would help if you mentioned e-benzin == iso-octane. The introduction of these two terms is overlapping and hence confusing.

    #-Link-Snipped-#
  • Coral Jain
    Coral Jain
    Shashank Moghe
    Also, it would help if you mentioned e-benzin == iso-octane. The introduction of these two terms is overlapping and hence confusing.

    #-Link-Snipped-#
    But both are not the same kind of hydrocarbons. Gasoline is obtained from Isooctane. Gasoline obtained from plants is e-benzin.
  • Coral Jain
    Coral Jain
    I am sure you are getting the points I am trying to make. 😀
  • Shashank Moghe
    Shashank Moghe
    Two hydrocarbons are the same as long as they have the same chain structure and same no of C & H atoms. What can differ is the way they are produced, which is different in this case. The hydrocarbon is still the same, iso-octane.

    Gasoline is a blend of several hydrocarbons and iso-octane is a major component of that blend, providing essential anti-knock properties to that blend.

    E-benzin is pure iso-octane produced synthetically (not from petroleum), as per the link.

You are reading an archived discussion.

Related Posts

Sony, the Japanese tech-giant has launched its new smartphone called 'Xperia M4 Aqua' in India. Introduced at the MWC 2015 event in Barcelona in March this year, this smartphone caused...
LG has introduced super UHD TV in India with ColorPrime and WebOS 2.0 technology. The TV is available in 55", 65" and 79" sizes with price starting at Rs. 2,94,900....
Researchers at Columbia University School of Engineering have devised a new revolutionary approach for developing a working diode that consist of a single molecule. The team led by Latha Venkataraman,...
Microsoft's personal digital assistant 'Cortana' is finally coming to iOS and Android devices. Microsoft's Joe Belfiore, whom you've seen multiple times at Microsoft's conferences, wrote on the official Windows blog...
Ever since Samsung’s grip on the smartphone market started to fade thanks to rise of feature packed mid-range offerings from Chinese brands, it has started to pursue relationships with unlikely...