(525c) Thermodynamic Properties of 2,5-Dimethylfuran + Furfuryl Alcohol, 2,5-Dimethylfuran + Methylisobutylketone, or Furfuryl Alcohol + Methyl Isobutylketone Binary Mixtures At Several Temperatures: Measurements and Modeling

Diminishing fossil fuel reserves and growing concerns about global warming indicate that sustainable sources of energy are needed in the near future. For fuels to be useful in the transportation sector, they must have specific physical properties that allow for efficient distribution, storage and combustion; these properties are currently fulfilled by non-renewable petroleum-derived liquid fuels. Ethanol, the only renewable liquid fuel currently produced in large quantities, suffers from several limitations, including low energy density, high volatility, and contamination by the absorption of water from the atmosphere. Recently, a team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison1 has developed a two-step catalytic process that can convert fructose into a potentially better liquid biofuel than ethanol, 2,5-dimethylfuran. 2,5-Dimethylfuran has 40%-higher energy density and a higher boiling point than ethanol, and is not water soluble. Fructose can be made directly from biomass or from glucose and although there's some work needed before 2,5-dimethylfuran production can be made commercially viable, this new catalytic process looks promising.

The present paper reports the vapor pressures of  (2,5-dimethyl furan + furfuryl alcohol), (2,5-dimethylfuran + methylisobutylketone) and (Furfurylalcohol + methylisobutylketone) binary mixtures measured using a static device at temperatures between 313 and 393 K.

The data were correlated with the Antoine equation. From these data excess Gibbs functions (G^E) were calculated for several constant temperatures and fitted to a third-order Redlich-Kister equation using the Barker’s method. The three binary systems exhibit positive deviations in G^E for all investigated temperatures over the whole composition range.

The NRTL and UNIQUAC models have also been used and good results were obtained in the prediction of the total pressure.

Acknowledgements

This work has been done in the framework of the bilateral project TASSILI (Ref. 09MDU761).