Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: Employing Green-Chemistry Principles for Safe and Sustainable Synthesis of Biodiesels
Published on: April 19, 2024
Designed to Be Green, Economic, and Efficient: A Ketone-Ester-Alcohol-Alkane Blend for Future Spark-Ignition Engines
Philipp Ackermann1, Karsten E Braun2, Patrick Burkardt3
1Process Systems Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074, Germany.
Abstract:
Model-based fuel design can tailor fuels to advanced engine concepts while minimizing environmental impact and production costs. A rationally designed ketone-ester-alcohol-alkane (KEAA) blend for high efficiency spark-ignition engines was assessed in a multi-disciplinary manner, from production cost to ignition characteristics, engine performance, ecotoxicity, microbial storage stability, and carbon footprint. The comparison included RON 95 E10, ethanol, and two previously designed fuels. KEAA showed high indicated efficiencies in a single-cylinder research engine. Ignition delay time measurements confirmed KEAA's high auto-ignition resistance. KEAA exhibits a moderate toxicity and is not prone to microbial infestation. A well-to-wheel analysis showed the potential to lower the carbon footprint by 95 percent compared to RON 95 E10. The findings motivate further investigations on KEAA and demonstrate advancements in model-based fuel design.
Related Concept Videos
Otto and Diesel Cycle
Internal Combustion Engine
Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
Alkanes undergo combustion in the presence of excess oxygen and high-temperature conditions to give carbon dioxide and water. A combustion reaction is the energy source in natural gas, liquified...
Ketones with Nonenolizable Aromatic Aldehydes: Claisen–Schmidt Condensation
As the self-condensation of ketones is generally not favored in basic conditions, the self-condensed products do not form in the reaction between ketones and benzaldehyde. The general reaction of Claisen–Schmidt...
Turnover Number and Catalytic Efficiency
Chymotrypsin is a pancreatic enzyme that breaks down proteins during digestion....
Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkanes: Wolff–Kishner Reduction

