Next Generation Fuels and Fuel Additives

There is a need to develop renewable fuels derived from biological sources that have chemical properties that are similar to petroleum-derived fuels. We are investigating the use
of chemical building blocks made by bacteria that may be used as fuel additives to improve the cold weather performance of biodiesel, or directly as fuels if chemically converted to
hydrocarbons. The bacteria of interest can synthesize natural polyester polymers called polyhydroxyalkaonates (PHAs) from low cost ag-industrial by-product (“waste”) streams.
Short chain length (sd-) and medium chain length (mcl-)PHAs can be synthesized by different bacteria and these polymers can be depolymerized to C4 to C6, and 08, ClO, and
012 3-hydroxy fatty acids that can be converted to methyl esters, methyl ethers, alkanes, and/or alkenes, which will be evaluated as potential fuel additives for biodiesel, or converted to hydrocarbons to make “green-gasoline” or bio-jet fuels.

Faculty Supervisor:

John Sorensen;David Levin;Nazim Cicek

Student:

Partner:

Myera Nu-Agri-Nomics Group Canada Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: