National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401-3393

A -- CONVERSION OF LIGUIN INTO HIGH OCTANE AROMATIC HYDROCARBON FUEL ADDITIVES SOL RDH-9-29115 DUE 081199 POC Verne Glassman (303) 275-3127 E-MAIL: click here to contact the Subcontract Administrator, verne_glassman@nrel.gov. The objective of this RFP is to develop the process for converting Lignin into high octane hydrocarbon fuel additives. The research will focus on finding conditions that allow the Lignin depolymerization process to be performed in water with only low concentrations of soluble bases. It is expected that a solid-base catalyst will be developed that facilitates this process. Research will also be performed that further develops the process for converting the depolymerized Lignin into a high-octane aromatic hydrocarbon product that is compatible with being used as an additive in reformulated gasoline. It is also expected that the process for converting Lignin into fuel additives will be scaled-up utilizing flow reactors so that sufficiently large samples of the products can be made to permit assessment of their fuel properties. Samples must be supplied to NREL so that the additives volatility (distillation curve and Reid Vapor Pressure), octane number (both Road and Motor Octane Number), and other gasolinespecification properties can be measured using the appropriate ASTM methods. Posted 08/04/99 (W-SN363126). (0216)

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