New "Swedish" technology solves the oil crisis

**Lazul** · 08-24-2005, 21:04

With "Swedish" I mean Sweden can take the whole credit, other nations are far in the development of DME as well.

DME is a fuelsource that is clean that has been used before in spraycans for example but scientists has started to work on a type that works in cars.
In sweden DME could stand for 40% of the fuel needed.

Link (in swedish, sorry)

well ive allways been opptimistic towards technology!

**Red Harvest** · 08-24-2005, 21:43

What is the DME being referred to? Sorry, but I can't read Swedish (wish I could.)

Last time I worked with something referred to as DME it was dimethyl ether. A very light volatile compound, and was produced by an alumina catalyzed dehydration of methanol. It was a very simple reaction, and rather clean. I did an initial plant design for a project since I had experience with full scale ether reactors. If this is the same DME the question of course would be where the methanol was coming from to make dimethyl ether.

**Ser Clegane** · 08-24-2005, 21:56

Originally Posted by Red Harvest

What is the DME being referred to? Sorry, but I can't read Swedish (wish I could.)

Last time I worked with something referred to as DME it was dimethyl ether. A very light volatile compound, and was produced by an alumina catalyzed dehydration of methanol. It was a very simple reaction, and rather clean. I did an initial plant design for a project since I had experience with full scale ether reactors. If this is the same DME the question of course would be where the methanol was coming from to make dimethyl ether.

DME would indeed be dimethyl ether and the source for methanol would be natural gas.

Looking at the current natural gas prices I am not sure if this development would result in cheaper fuel

However, a diversification of fuel sources would generally be a good thing I would think.

**Sigurd** · 08-24-2005, 22:00

The article claims that a new Swedish technique can make DiMethyl Ether (DME) from black lye, a waste product from the paper and cellulose industry.

**yesdachi** · 08-24-2005, 22:09

I think alternate fuels are a great idea. A gas station in a little town outside where I live will be adding E10 and E85 (both soy or corn based gas mixtures I think) to their available options. http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.a...7&nav=0RcddgMA

**Ser Clegane** · 08-24-2005, 22:16

Originally Posted by Sigurd Fafnesbane

The article claims that a new Swedish technique can make DiMethyl Ether (DME) from black lye, a waste product from the paper and cellulose industry.

Thanks for clarifying this, Sigurd

For some regions (i.e. Scandinavia and North America) this might then indeed be an interesting additional fuel source.

**Red Harvest** · 08-24-2005, 22:23

Originally Posted by Ser Clegane

DME would indeed be dimethyl ether and the source for methanol would be natural gas.

Looking at the current natural gas prices I am not sure if this development would result in cheaper fuel

However, a diversification of fuel sources would generally be a good thing I would think.

Thanks. Problem with natural gas is typically getting it from point A to point B, as well as regional availability. A lot of electrical generation was put on line to replace coal plants in the U.S. with natural gas. Unfortunately, the resource hit a limit a few years ago--predictable, if you watched the herd moving.

Not sure how DME would be for cars, as it has to be pressurized to over 60 psig to keep it liquid at room temp. Would be more like propane in character.

**bmolsson** · 08-25-2005, 02:34

I believe that Ethanol will be the best alternative to petrol in the future. Worked on a project in university on that. With the current price levels, it would actually be viable commercially as well.