Use of blends of gasoline with biomass pyrolysis-oil derived fractions as fuels in an Otto engine

The objective of this paper is to report our results on the behavior of an Otto engine working with gasoline blended with a fraction rich in esters of carboxylic acids derived from biomass pyrolysis bio-oil, hereby called as “Bioflex”. Sugarcane trash undergoes a fast pyrolysis process at the PPR-200 pilot plant to produce the bio-oil at Unicamp (Brazil). The process of separating carboxylic acids from bio-oil, the production of esters from these acids, the process of blending these esters with gasoline as well as the results of the use of this blend in an Otto engine of 4 kW capacity – component of a 2 kWe generator – are described. Trial tests determined that it is possible to blend up to 14 vol.% of Bioflex with gasoline type C used in Brazil. The engine performance with this blend compared to the performance of the engine working with pure gasoline resulted in identical power output and fuel consumption. The results showed that it is technically feasible to use blends of carboxylic acid esters derived from the biomass pyrolysis bio-oil with gasoline in conventional Otto engines.

Research highlights
► Carboxylic fractions of biomass pyrolysis-oil were used to operate an Otto engine.
► Esters of acids were blended with two types of gasoline sold in the Brazilian market.
► Up to 14% of carboxylic acid esters was possible to mix with gasoline type C.
► Power generation and specific fuel consumption resulted similar.