09-Sep-2020 | Market Research Store
Researchers from Washington State University have found an economical way of converting plant materials to fuels by preventing iron from rusting. The researchers have found a specific chemical reaction to help do so that to at a lower cost. Furthermore, the use of readily available substances for biofuel conversion is an highly efficient tactic. It has been almost a decade since the researchers have been trying to make fuels or chemicals using renewable plant-based resources including algae, crop waste, or forest residuals. However, these biofuels are less preferred owing to its high cost and low energy density compared to the fossil fuels.
The major concern over using plant-based feedstock for fuel production is the removal of oxygen from it. It is here where the cheapest catalysts are believed to come into play. And the researchers believe what better than iron as it is present in abundance. The iron-based catalysts has shown promising results in removing oxygen but the oxygen present in the plants is found to oxidize it and stop the entire reaction. Thus, the integration of a carbon atom into the iron catalysts showed modified result that is low reaction with oxygen and instead removes all the oxygen from the plant.
The finding of a durable iron-based catalyst with a thin carbon graphene layer encircling it for the protection and tailoring of electronic properties for carrying out the reactions was the basic motto of the researchers. Tuning the properties of iron and protecting it has provided the base for using this earth abundant catalyst for biomass conversion. For now, the researchers are trying to better understand the chemical reaction for further enhancement of the reactivity of the iron catalysts. The effect of iron catalysts on the real feedstock still has to be evaluated but the researchers find their study to be promising and economical.
Markets Research Store has published a report on global biofuel market. The biofuel market report clarifies the various queries related to the market size, share, growth, segmentation, financial growth, market drivers, opportunities, and so on.
https://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-biofuel-market-research-report-2019-2023-640859