CNN Special Report: Fueling America

[eppur_se_muova]

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2006/fueling.america/

OK, it's only CNN ... but the info in the charts is extensive. Be sure to check out who the biggest oil producers and consumers are, and what states are most reliant on coal (in % terms, it starts with WV, WY, UT, IN ...) or biggest producers of CO2 (correlates with population, more than anything else).

There's also mention of a type of fuel called 'P-series' which includes biomass-derived methyltetrahydrofuran (methyl-THF), ethanol, and liquids derived from natural gas. I hadn't heard of this before, and am a little surprised that an ether -- which tends to form explosive hydroperoxides -- would be considered as a component of a commercial fuel. (Though I'm interested in furfural/furan derivatives from biomass for other applications.)

[skids]

1. Ethers...

...just ask NNadir. He will regail you as to the wonder of DME as an auto fuel until you just can't stand it anymore :-)

[eppur_se_muova]

2. DME (Me2O) is unusual in NOT readily forming hydroperoxides, as is MTBE.

It has to do with the reactivity of bonds between H and a C bearing one, two, or three substituents. Only tertiary ethers (no H's) and methyl (bonds too strong) are 'exempt' among alkyl ethers.

(I try to avoid the abbreviation DME because it is also in use for another solvent, 1,2-dimethoxyethane. But it looks to be a losing battle.)