NC State research produces biofuel similar to unleaded

Biofuels research at North Carolina State University produced a biofuel similar to traditional unleaded gasoline in a recent demonstration, according to Gilbert, Ariz.-based Diversified Energy, which licensed the process.

The company said the production process, called Centia, takes any renewable oil input source, including oils derived from agriculture crops, algae, animal fats, and waste greases, and produces transportation fuels that are 1-for-1 replacements for petroleum jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline.

"The team is extremely encouraged with the bio-gasoline results generated to date," said professor Henry Lamb, lead investigator on the biofuel work at NC State.

"With over 243 million vehicles on U.S. roads, with a majority using gasoline, finding an affordable renewable drop-in replacement would be a major achievement."

Diversified Energy said the researchers started with an input mimicking what would have originated as soybean oil, and generated a fuel closely resembling the carbon number profile and molecular composition of unleaded gasoline.

The company said a mass conversion efficiency in excess of 90 percent was achieved.

The process was developed in 2006 by the university and has been licensed exclusively by Diversified Energy.

In addition to biofuels, Diversified Energy is involved in the development of gasification technologies and algae production.

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