The strategy for Maine BioProducts early project development is to combine at least 85% of the levulinic acid we produce with an alcohol to make levulinate fuels. 

 

  These levulinate fuels -  esters using ethanol, methanol. butanol, or mixed alcohols - are certified viable additives for gasoline and diesel transportation fuels, and are being tested for certification as diesel equivalent heating oils.  In addition to greater carbon neutraility, levulinate fuel mixtures burn cleaner than pure hydrocarbon products.

 

  Levulinates have many advantageous properties. They are non-toxic. (Ethyl levulinate is an FDA approved food additive, and is common in perfumes an candles, and levulinic acid is used in approved skin cancer treatments.) Levulinates have greater miscibility with petrochemical fuels than either soy diesel or ethanol.  Thus, unlike ethanol, mixtures of levulinate and gasoline can be pipelined instead of having to be splash blended at the pump. Moreover, levulinates have lower cloudpoint and a lower gelpoint than biodiesel, resulting in better general cold flow properties. 

   No other biofuel has been so extensively tested, including more than 300,000 miles of trials in both gasoline and diesel automobiles. EL also reduces soot, offers higher mpg than ethanol, and exceeds ASTM D-975 diesel standards.

 

  Strategically, esters of levulinic acid are an excellent way to extend the existing bio-alcohol supplies. Because these alcohols are used in the production of levulinate fuels, levulinic acid will be a natural complement, rather than a competitor, to cellulosic ethanol efforts