Alternative Liquid Fuels from Renewable Resources

Recent progress regarding the production of alternative liquid fuels is described with a focus on catalyst development. Fuels for spark ignition engines as well as diesel fuels are considered and their potentials regarding the reduction of harmful emissions are addressed. Two main strategies are described. The first implies production of synthesis gas from renewables or CO2 and subsequent synthesis of methanol or dimethyl ether. Both can be further converted to a series of valuable fuels, e.g., high-quality gasoline or oxymethylene ethers. The second strategy comprises the production of ethanol and its conversion to gasoline.