Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The transportation biofuels bioethanol and MTHF replace conventional gasoline as a liquid
transportation fuel in passenger cars. It is assumed that the electricity and heat produced by the
biorefinery substitute, respectively, electricity produced from natural gas turbine and heat
generated from a heavy oil boiler.
Regarding the two remaining biofuels, biomethane (fed to the national grid) replaces
conventional natural gas in its applications as a stationary fuel while bio-H
2
replaces
conventional hydrogen production from steam reforming of natural gas.
Concerning the chemicals, their GHG emissions and fossil energy requirements were
been estimated considering their production chains in the current oil refinery. It is assumed
that furan resins replace epoxy resins.
Epoxy resins are polymers originated from polymerization of epoxy monomers, and are
produced by reaction of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A. Epichlorohydrin is a highly
reactive epoxide and polymerizes upon treatment with acid or strong base; bisphenol A,
commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups
and constitutes a building block of several important polymers and polymer additives. Epoxy
resins are used as adhesives (they are one of the few adhesives that can be used on metals), as
protective coatings, as materials in electronic circuit boards and for patching holes in concrete
pavement. In Figure 16, the chemical structures of BPA, epichlorohydrin and the reaction
mechanism leading to epoxy resins, are illustrated.
Figure 16. Reaction between BPA and epichlorohydrin and formation of epoxy resins.
