2,5-Dimethylfuran

CHEMSUSCHEM

MINIREVIEWS

DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201200738

Harmonising Production, Properties and Environmental

Consequences of Liquid Transport Fuels from Biomass—

2,5-Dimethylfuran as a Case Study

John M. Simmie* and Judith Würmel[a]

The rapid development in methods for transforming nonedible biomass into platform chemicals and fuels has accelerated over recent years. However, the determination of whether

these ‘next-generation’ biofuels perform in a satisfactory

manner in engines, turbines and burners has lagged behind.

The evaluation of the ecological and toxicological aspects has

also been unable to keep up. We show, by using 2,5-dimethyl-

furan (DMF) as a concrete example, how a range of studies is

needed to establish the benefits and risks of using a particular

biofuel. In this regard, the variable with the largest impact

about which little is known is probably the behaviour of DMF

when it is accidentally introduced into groundwater. A primary

consideration is to avoid a repetition of the methyl tert-butyl

ether (MTBE) fiasco.

1. Introduction

The extraordinary growth in the number of published articles

on biofuels in the past decade is an illustration of the growing

attention in the world on the issues of looming scarcity and

environmental damage caused by the use of fossil fuels.[1]

These twin driving forces have prompted a plethora of inventive solutions to the transformation of non-edible biomass

into platform chemicals and fuels in bio-refineries.[2, 3] An additional driving force has been the legislative; currently, for example, the European Union requires that a minimum 10 % of

all transport energy in member states should come from renewable sources by 2020.[4]

Gomez et al. reviewed the case for biofuels and gave a clear

explanation of the problems to be solved before cost-effective

production can be commenced.[5] Their review is particularly

valuable as it treats the subject from a biological perspective

with a focus on...