High Purity Oligomeric Oxymethylene Ethers as Diesel Fuels

Abstract

Oligomeric oxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME n , CH 3 (OCH 2 ) n OCH 3 , n = 1 -5) are promising diesel fuels for the reduction of harmful emissions. If OMEs are produced from dimethoxymethane and trioxane, the resulting OME mixtures usually contain residual trioxane which appears, after rectification, in the OME 2 fraction. To circumvent this obstacle, substoichiometric amounts of trioxane have been employed in OME synthesis. Thus, OME 2 samples with high purity could be prepared. Physicochemical and fuel data of high purity OME 2 and higher OMEs have been determined to supplement previously reported data.

The development of the production cost of oxymethylene ethers as diesel additives from biomass

“…Diesel/DMM blends require engine modification; DMM and DME lower the fuel viscosity and can reduce diesel solubility at low temperatures, thereby increasing the fuel vapor pressure . Oxymethylene ethers with the chemical structure CH 3 ‐O‐[CH 2 ‐O‐] n ‐CH 3 have physical properties similar to diesel fuels and many advantages over methanol and other oxygenated additives, such as high self‐ignition properties, high miscibility with diesel fuel in any concentration, no toxicity, and good material compatibility . Lautenschütz et al .…”

“…9 Oxymethylene ethers with the chemical structure CH 3 -O-[CH 2 -O-] n -CH 3 have physical properties similar to diesel fuels and many advantages over methanol and other oxygenated additives, such as high self-ignition properties, high miscibility with diesel fuel in any concentration, no toxicity, and good material compatibility. [10][11][12] Lautenschütz et al 13 provided a detailed review of the physico-chemical properties and fuel characteristics of oxymethylene ethers.…”

Recent Progress in the Production, Application and Evaluation of Oxymethylene Ethers

“…As already mentioned, the OME 3 – 5 fraction exhibits physico‐chemical and combustion characteristics similar to conventional diesel fuels , , . Important parameters are density, melting and boiling point or range, heating values, autoignition and flash point, cetane number, lubricity, viscosity or surface tension, to name just a few.…”

“…In previous studies, the contamination of OME 2 with residual trioxane, even after careful rectification, has been a major obstacle. This could now be overcome and OME 2 with a purity > 99.9 wt % could be obtained and extensively characterized .…”

Alternative Liquid Fuels from Renewable Resources

“…The use of oxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OMEs) as alternative diesel fuels enables to overcome this obstacle. These oligomeric compounds with the molecular structure CH 3 O(CH 2 O) n CH 3 (OME n ) exhibit advantageous combustion properties [79,80] and good accordance with current diesel standards [81,82]. In general, OMEs can be produced from fossil or renewable resources [83] by reactions of methanol or methanol derivatives with formaldehyde.…”