title: Harmonising production, properties and environmental consequences of liquid transport fuels from biomass--2,5-dimethylfuran as a case study.
abstract: The rapid development in methods for transforming non-edible biomass into platform chemicals and fuels has accelerated over recent years. However, the determination of whether these 'next-generation' biofuels perform in a satisfactory manner in engines, turbines and burners has lagged behind. The evaluation of the ecological and toxicological aspects has also been unable to keep up. We show, by using 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) as a concrete example, how a range of studies is needed to establish the benefits and risks of using a particular biofuel. In this regard, the variable with the largest impact about which little is known is probably the behaviour of DMF when it is accidentally introduced into groundwater. A primary consideration is to avoid a repetition of the methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) fiasco.
authors.affiliation: Combustion Chemistry Centre, School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. john.simmie@nuigalway.ie
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Simmie
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Würmel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005663:Furans; C037555:2,5-dimethylfuran