(398l) Experimental Determination and Modeling of Pvt Properties of 2,5-DMF + Ethanol and 2,5-DMF + Propanol Systems up to 393 K and 70 Mpa

Growing global energy consumption, limited by the finite availability of fossil fuels and growing environmental concerns, has driven producers and researchers to develop alternative energy sources. Among the several options, renewable fuels have emerged as a promising solution, either as gasoline additives or as alternative fuels. Biofuels have established themselves as a viable energy alternative due to their multiple advantages.

The main advantages of biofuels include the sustainability of their feedstocks (such as fructose, wood, and glucose), their physicochemical compatibility with traditional fossil and oxygenated fuels (such as linear and branched ethers), and their lower environmental impact compared to conventional fuels. Recent research has established an efficient biochemical route to produce 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-DMF), with significant yields and technical properties that position it as a potential biofuel. Key properties such as the Research Octane Number (RON), Motor Octane Number (MON), and energy density of 2,5-DMF are comparable to those of gasoline, which has sparked interest in evaluating its thermophysical properties and its potential use as an additive or pure biofuel.

Actually, experimental information on blends of 2,5-DMF with other fuels is limited, particularly with alcohols such as ethanol and 1-propanol, which can improve energy efficiency during combustion. Combining these biofuels allows for the exploration of synergies that optimize their physicochemical properties and enhance their viability as sustainable fuels. These results will provide fundamental information for the thermodynamic characterization of biofuel blends, facilitating the evaluation of their potential as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

For the mentioned above, in this work the density of the 2,5-DMF + ethanol and 2,5-DMF + propanol systems was experimentally determined up to 393 K and 70 MPa in temperature and pressure, respectively, using the vibrating tube densimetry technique. Prior to the experimental determinations, calibrations of the pressure and temperature indicators were performed, and the experimental method was validated. In order to expand the knowledge about the pvT behavior of the mixtures under study, the densities of the pure fluids were also determined.

Finally, the data obtained from the experimental determinations were modeled using a Tattman-Tait type equation, which was shown to have good agreement with the experimental data.