Description:
Reference #: 01073
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for a method to convert platform chemicals into liquefied petroleum gas in one-step with minimal energy input.
Invention Description:
The subject invention describes a one-step method of converting biomass platform chemicals into liquid petroleum gas (LPG) without using additional reactants. It uses platform chemicals as a renewable energy input, delivers bio-LPG with high conversion efficiency, and can be operated at moderate temperatures and atmospheric pressure. The resulting bio-LPG is a sustainable energy resource and can be used as a fuel in heating, cooking, power generation, and combustion engines.
Potential Applications:
Chemical refineries and biomass processing plants
Advantages and Benefits:
1. The energy consumption of the process is low because it uses platform chemicals and does not use syngas intermediates, which can be energy-intensive.
2. The proposed process of bio-LPG production is more energy efficient and generates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than fuels produced from conventional petroleum products.
3. A process developed from the proposed technology could significantly reduce LPG costs, increase LPG supplies, and encourage distribution in rural areas, resulting in healthier populations with access to a sustainable energy source.
Background:
Plant biomass is the renewable and inexpensive source of carbon, which can be transformed into fuels or useful chemicals. If scaled properly and sustainably produced, bio-LPG could replace petroleum-LPG. Bio-LPG is chemically identical to petroleum-LPG.