A Review of Isobutanol as a Fuel for Internal Combustion Engines

André L. Olson, Martin Tunér and Sebastian Verhelst ()
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André L. Olson: Department of Energy Sciences, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
Martin Tunér: Department of Energy Sciences, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
Sebastian Verhelst: Department of Energy Sciences, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-28

Abstract: Isobutanol, one of the four isomers of butanol (C 4 H 9 OH), possesses some favorable properties that make it an attractive fuel for internal combustion engines. For instance, when compared to ethanol, isobutanol features a higher heating value and lower hygroscopicity (which prevents corrosion and enables it to be transported via pipelines). Moreover, its addition to gasoline does not distort the fuel blend’s vapor pressure to the same extent as ethanol does. All of this while having a high octane rating. Those advantages over ethanol suggest that isobutanol has the potential to be used as a gasoline oxygenate or even as a neat fuel. Furthermore, the advances made in biotechnology have enabled isobutanol to be produced from biomass more efficiently, allowing it to be used in compliance with existing renewable energy mandates. This article reviews some of the relevant literature dedicated to isobutanol as a motor fuel, covering its merits and drawbacks. Several studies on its combustion characteristics are also discussed. Most of the included literature refers to the use of isobutanol in spark-ignition (SI) engines, as its properties naturally lend themselves to such applications. However, isobutanol’s utilization in diesel engines is also addressed, along with a couple of low-temperature combustion examples.

Keywords: internal combustion engine; butanol; isobutanol; combustion; emissions; renewable; fuel blends; oxygenate; biofuel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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