title: Electrochemistry for biofuel generation: transformation of fatty acids and triglycerides to diesel-like olefin/ether mixtures and olefins.
abstract: Electroorganic synthesis can be exploited for the production of biofuels from fatty acids and triglycerides. With Coulomb efficiencies (CE) of up to 50 %, the electrochemical decarboxylation of fatty acids in methanolic and ethanolic solutions leads to the formation of diesel-like olefin/ether mixtures. Triglycerides can be directly converted in aqueous solutions by using sonoelectrochemistry, with olefins as the main products (with a CE of more than 20 %). The latter reaction, however, is terminated at around 50 % substrate conversion by the produced side-product glycerol. An energy analysis shows that the electrochemical olefin synthesis can be an energetically competitive, sustainable, and--in comparison with established processes--economically feasible alternative for the exploitation of fats and oils for biofuel production.
authors: Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106 Braunschweig (Germany), Fax: +(49) 0531918424, Tel: (+49) 0531918425.
authors: Tatiane R
authors: TR
authors: dos Santos
authors: Falk
authors: F
authors: Harnisch
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Nilges
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Schröder
mesh_terms: D000475:Alkenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D056804:Biofuels; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004987:Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D005742:Gasoline; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000475:Alkenes; D056804:Biofuels; D004987:Ethers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005742:Gasoline; D014280:Triglycerides; D014867:Water
keywords: biofuels; electrochemistry; fatty acids; green chemistry; triglycerides