Radiation-initiated conversion of paraffins to engine fuel: Direct and indirect initiation

•Three radiolytic ways to produce engine fuel from paraffins.•Synthesis from methane results in small yield of high-octane gasoline.•Cracking of heavy wax yields mainly solar oil along with heavy waste.•Combined gas/wax beaming provides waste-free formation mainly of gasoline.

Formation of gasoline and diesel fuel has been investigated using three various radiation-induced ways: (1) cracking of wax, (2) synthesis from methane, (3) high-temperature conversion of wax dilute solution in methane. The wax, synthesized by Fischer–Tropsch method, initially contained a mixture of C17–C120 linear paraffins. The yield of wax conversion to liquid mixture (C4–C27 alkenes and 61.5% alkanes) via mode (1) was 0.83±0.09 μmole/J, whereas yield of gas conversion to liquid mixture (C5–C13 alkanes) via mode (2) was 0.95±0.02 μmole/J. In the dilute solution wax underwent indirect action of radiation. In comparison with (1) the mode (3) produces similar amount of lighter fuel containing 80% of alkanes (C5–C15). At the same time degree of methane fixation is almost three times higher.