Exploration of Pathways to Advanced Biofuels and Co-Products

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Over the past 15 years, NSERC Discovery funded research in our laboratory has unlocked understanding of the high temperature free-radical conversion of oils and fats directly into hydrocarbons without the use of hydrogen or catalysts. These fundamental insights have supported the development of a patented industrially-competitive Canadian novel technology. Subsequent applied grant investments and applied research partnerships, licensing, and ongoing commercial deployment of a Lipid-to-Hydrocarbon technology has provided a breakthrough in establishing low cost advanced biofuels from sustainable low value feedstocks with substantially reduced carbon intensity. Although my research program has created a new pathway to a viable advanced biofuel technology, there remains unexplored opportunity to pursue identified pathways to develop new biojet fuels and potentially super fuels with very low cloud points.******The requested funding builds upon these previous successful investments adding two additional lines of inquiry and fundamental investigation and the training of HQP aligned with Canada's national priorities. The first new area of investigation will focus on exploring novel free-radical reactions, recently discovered by my program, between oils and fats with small unsaturated compounds. The compounds are added with the express purpose of inducing chemistries that produce branched hydrocarbons without the use of traditional isomerization and hydrogen. The focus will be on developing product streams of branched hydrocarbons capable of meeting stringent Canadian biojet fuel requirements as well as producing very low cloud point super fuels not possible with traditional catalytic approaches. A second line of inquiry will investigate the novel use of microwaves for the heating of fats and oils at high temperatures AND pressures. This will enable unique chemistries and more rapid conversion of fats and oils to high value fuels, chemicals and solvents using a UNIQUE prototype microwave system designed and fabricated by an industry partner with my groups participation over the past 2 years. The majority of the activities will focus on gaining deeper understanding of reaction fundamentals, manipulation of controlling variables, and on developing predictive models for the reaction systems.******The approach taken will be to focus on the training of 5 diverse highly qualified graduate students with a mix of scientific and engineering backgrounds along with 2 postdoctoral fellows in a fundamental multidisciplinary environment with exposure to industrial research dynamics through participation in conferences, industry partner exposure and workshops. My lab will also provide a high-paced research environment with a focus on professional training, cultural awareness and sensitivities. This will be provided with an emphasis on professional communication skills including oral presentations, written disclosures, and group meetings as well as individual mentorship.*****