• Chimica Verde
• Dibutyl Ether
• Etere Dibutilico
• Green Chemistry
• Sostenibile

This work was conducted at the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry in Pisa. The aim of this work was the valorisation of lignocellulosic biomasses to obtain chemicals and fuels additives.
The aim of the thesis was the valorisation of the cellulosic fraction of two pre-treated biomasses: E. nitens and P. Pinaster. Pre-treatments were previously used to remove the hemicellulosic and lignin fractions from the biomasses.
The pre-treated biomasses were converted into chemicals such as glucose and levulinc acid by a hydrolysis reaction in presence of soluble acid catalysts.
The residual cellulosic fractions of the pre-treated biomasses were valorised by the alcoholysis reaction using acid like catalyst in homogeneous system. The reaction was implemented and optimised using n-butanol as a solvent and sulphuric acid as a catalyst to obtain Butyl Levulinate.
Model mixtures were prepared based on the characterisation of the products obtained from the reaction, by using commercial reactants. The mixtures were then used in blend with commercial Diesel for engine performance tests. The engine tests were carried out in collaboration with the Energy Engineering Department at the University of Pisa, at “Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario sulle Biomasse da Energia” (CRIBE) in San Piero a Grado (Pisa). A comparative study about emissions and performances of the engine powered by commercial Diesel and the different prepared blends was carried out, based on the results obtained by the engine tests.