Chemistry of Fossil Fuels and Biofuels

by Harold Schobert

Overview

Focusing on today's major fuel resources – ethanol, biodiesel, wood, natural gas, petroleum products and coal – this book discusses the formation, composition and properties of the fuels, and the ways in which they are processed for commercial use. The book examines the origin of fuels through natural processes such as photosynthesis and the geological transformation of ancient plant material; the relationships between their composition, molecular structures, and physical properties; and the various processes by which they are converted or refined into the fuel products appearing on today's market. Fundamental chemical aspects such as catalysis and the behaviour of reactive intermediates are presented, and global warming and anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are also discussed. The book is suitable for graduate students in energy engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and chemistry, as well as professional scientists and engineers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521114004
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/17/2013
Series:	Cambridge Series in Chemical Engineering
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	497
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.80(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Harold H. Schobert is Professor Emeritus of Fuel Science, Pennsylvania State University, and Extraordinary Professor, Coal Research Group, North-West University. A recognized leading authority on energy technology, he has over 30 years of experience in teaching and research on fuel chemistry.

Table of Contents

1. Fuels and the global carbon cycle; 2. Catalysis, enzymes and proteins; 3. Photosynthesis and the formation of polysaccharides; 4. Ethanol; 5. Plant oils and biodiesel; 6. Composition and reactions of wood; 7. Reactive intermediates; 8. Formation of fossil fuels; 9. Structure-property relationships among hydrocarbons; 10. Composition, properties and processing of natural gas; 11. Composition, properties and classification of petroleum; 12. Petroleum distillation; 13. Heterogeneous catalysis; 14. Catalytic routes to gasoline; 15. Middle distillate fuels; 16. Thermal processing in refining; 17. Composition, properties and classification of coals; 18. The inorganic chemistry of coals; 19. Production of synthetic gas; 20. Gas treatment and shifting; 21. Uses of synthetic gas; 22. Direct production of liquid fuels from coal pyrolysis; 23. Carbonization and coking of coal; 24. Carbon products from fossil and biofuels; 25. Carbon dioxide.

Editorial Reviews

"This well-organized, well-written, and fact-laden book is the product of mounting societal attention to the consequences of the the use of carbon fuels for global climate change … an authoritative and detailed explication of the life history of fossil and renewable biofuels … Full understanding of this material will require an undergraduate acquaintance with organic chemistry … Highly recommended."
T. R. Blackburn, Choice

"This is one of the most remarkable books on chemistry that [it] has been my good fortune to encounter … an outstanding book that should be read by everyone interested in chemistry."
Edward R. Adlard, Chromatographia

From the Publisher