Chemical synthesis: Fuels

Question 1

Chemical synthesis

Answer 1

Synthesis of useful products using chemistry

Question 2

Things to consider

Answer 2

Product yield
Reactants - amount, hazardous, cost
Waste products
Reaction Pathways
Byproducts
Conditions
Environmental impact

Question 3

Fuels

Answer 3

Fuels
- Hydrogen
- Ethanol - hydration, fermentation
- Biodiesel

Ethanol and biodiesel –
Biofuel - produced from renewable sources such as plants, rather than fossil fuels.

Question 4

Biodiesel

Answer 4

esters made from vegetable oils and animal and fats and oils (triglycerides)

Question 5

Transesterification

Answer 5

a process which uses an alcohol as a catalyst to split a triglyceride into glycerol and an ester

Question 6

Base catalyst

Answer 6

uses a strong base as a catalyst. Uses low temp and pressure. Can sometimes produce soap molecules

Question 7

Lipase catalyst

Answer 7

uses lipase as a catalyst. Slower and more expensive. Products are purer

Question 8

Ethanol

Answer 8

Hydration of ethene
Ethene + water –(H3PO4, 300˚C, 60-70atm)–> ethanol

Only 5% is conserved into ethanol each it passes catalyst, so process is repeated

Question 9

Fermentation of glucose

Answer 9

Glucose from renewable feedstock (corn or sugar cane) are fermented with yeast as a catalyst.

Glucose –(yeast )–>ethanol + carbon dioxide