Back to homepage

Isobutanol blend performs well in marine tests

By Matt Soberg | November 23, 2011

An isobutanol gasoline blend, provided by Gevo Inc., tested well as an alternative marine fuel according the report released Nov. 18 by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the American Boat and Yacht Council. The organizations conducted two tests, an emissions test and product test, to  evaluate various components in the marine environment including inboard, outboard, jet pump and two-stroke engines.

The results showed isobutanol reduces CO2 emissions compared to indolene, the standard gasoline used for engine testing, according to NMMA. Isobutanol shows similar hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions to gasoline.

On the products and performance side, isobutanol provides 30 percent more energy content than ethanol and does not cause phase separation when water enters a boat’s fuel system, which is a major benefit for the marine industry. Isobutanol carries approximately 86 percent of the energy content of gasoline, compared to 68 percent for ethanol, according to the NMMA.

 “The product attributes of isobutanol, made in retrofitted ethanol plants, can solve the problems associated with current generation biofuels,” said Chris Ryan, president and COO of Gevo. “Isobutanol is compatible will all gasoline engines and infrastructure like pipelines and fuel pumps. These benefits make it a very promising biofuel additive that can help the nation achieve greater energy independence and align the interests of farmers, ethanol plant owners, refiners, engine manufacturers and consumers.” 

“We are pleased with the results of the evaluation on isobutanol and look forward to more testing on this, and other important alternatives to E15,” said NMMA President Thom Dammrich. The research was supported by Bombardier Recreational Products and Volvo through product, personnel and testing equipment.  

The U.S. DOE has designated isobutanol as a “drop-in biofuel,” according to the NMMA.  In accordance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, isobutanol can be used to displace petroleum, which could help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

 

6 Responses

  1. G. Willia

    2011-11-23

    1

    Unfortunately, phase separation is only one of a handful of problem associated with Ethanol use in Marine engines. Testing should be done on isobutanol to conclusively determine how it will effect fiberglass, seals, rubber gaskets, fuel lines and aluminum (as we know that Ethanol causes a breakdown on each of these components and materials).

  2. Jon

    2011-11-25

    2

    According to the December 2011 Boat U.S. article, "...isobutanol is not as potent a solvent as ethanol, so it might be the panacea for older boats with fiberglass fuel tanks."

  3. mtman

    2011-11-27

    3

    Actually ethanol does not cause the problems with rubber gaskets, seals, and fuels lines as mentioned in another comment. It is other common components of gasoline, not ethanol.

  4. George nitta

    2011-11-28

    4

    I have tested ethanol E100 for over 10 years and found no damage to ruber, fiberglass, rubber or any thing people say they have. I have E100 in a plastic bottle with all this in it. We must look at the real truth and not just blame ethanol. If water is going in the fuel tanks of the boats then even with no ethanol in the fuel it will damage the parts and stall the engine cause it can't burn water. In this case I use ethanol in the fuel to get out the water by it burning as fuel. ethanol is the best fuel by far so please get it right. George Nitta

  5. Alex Kovnat

    2011-11-28

    5

    We note that isobutanol is a less aggressive solvent and corrodent than ethanol. Ethanol in turn, is in general a less aggressive substance than methanol. We should make note of this, as the proposed Open Fuel Standard mandates that cars be capable of operation on ethanol, methanol, gasoline or any combination thereof. I would just as soon delete the methanol requirement. I was once enthusiastic about methanol, but the only use I have for said fuel nowadays is if somebody wants to spend his or her own time and money to convert their own vehicle to methanol operation. I'd like to see how isobutanol works out as an aircraft spark-ignition piston engine fuel or fuel blending component, given that if you ban lead altogether, the highest octane practically achievable is ~94.

  6. Patrick Prouty

    2011-11-30

    6

    I have been a fuels chemist for over 20 years. Isobutanol is wonderful additive for gasoline and can be blended at higher % than ethanol with out engine modification. The only reason we haven't seen Iso-butanol used in mainstream gasoline blends is cost. It is considerably more expensive to manufacture than ethanol. That being said hopefully with the new tech in the bio industry we can convert every ethanol plant in the midwest into much more useful isobutanol. Isobutanol is far superior for fuel blending than ethanol, it has higher btu, meaning Isobutanol will not suffer the MPG reduction as ethanol.

    7.  

    Leave a Reply

    Comments are closed