Upgrading biomass feeds normally results in signficant weight losses.
* To upgrade sugars to fuel, remove excess oxygen
* Removed oxygen “pulls” Hydrogen (H) and Carbon (C) with in in form of H2O and CO2
* Maximum Yields depend on starting feeds and ending products, but not path chosen
. Example of Balance Reaction
Sugar – to – pentane: 4 C6H12O6 reacts to make 3 C5H12 + 6 H2O + 9 CO2 + heat
Sum of Molecular weights 720 reacts to 216 + 108 + 396
.
Weight% yield = 216/720 = 30% Theoretical Maximum Reaaction Yield
.
Thus the minimum weight loss converting 100% dry sugar to pentane is 70%.
The minimum weight loss for converting 50% moisture sugar to pentane is 85%.
Or if you pay 15 cents/pound for dry sugar, the sugar portion of the pentane cost is >50 cents/pound.
Bloomdahl Engineering 