A new review published in Engineering offers a systematic overview of recent advances in combustion kinetics for biomass-derived oxygenated fuels, providing fundamental insights to support low-carbon energy transitions and cleaner fuel design. Authored by researchers from Tsinghua University and Princeton University, the article summarizes a decade of kinetic investigations covering alcohols, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), ketones, ethers, and carbonates, with a focus on how oxygen-containing functional groups shape reaction pathways and combustion properties.

The review begins with basic concepts and research methods in reaction kinetics, serving as a reference for engineering researchers. It highlights distinct reaction patterns across fuel categories: alcohols undergo characteristic unimolecular dehydration; FAMEs behave similarly to long-chain hydrocarbons, where unsaturation strongly affects low-temperature oxidation; ketone oxidation is governed by resonance-stabilized radicals; straight-chain ethers show unique double negative temperature coefficient behavior; and carbonates, widely used in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, undergo a distinctive CO₂ elimination pathway.

Compared with conventional hydrocarbon fuels, oxygenated biofuels present new challenges in combustion kinetics, especially regarding operating conditions, functional group effects, and interactions between oxygenates and hydrocarbons. The authors note that while small molecules such as ethanol have long been studied, larger and more complex oxygenates continue to raise unresolved mechanistic questions. The review also covers widely used core kinetic frameworks and experimental platforms including shock tubes, rapid compression machines, jet-stirred reactors, and laser-based and mass spectrometric diagnostics that resolve key intermediates.

To improve predictive kinetic models, the review outlines three priority directions: expanding experimental datasets especially at low temperatures; refining rate parameters via quantum chemical calculations and potential energy surface analyses; and adopting advanced computational tools including automated mechanism generation, systematic optimization, and physics-informed artificial intelligence tailored to oxygenate chemistries.

The work is grounded in the need to replace fossil fuels with renewable, low-carbon alternatives. Biomass-based oxygenated fuels help lower lifecycle carbon emissions and reduce soot formation, supporting stricter environmental regulations for transportation and energy systems. By clarifying structure‑reactivity relationships and key reaction steps, this review provides a solid foundation for developing reliable kinetic models, optimizing fuel formulations, and guiding the design of efficient, low-emission combustion devices.

The paper “Recent Research Progress in Combustion Kinetics of Biomass-Derived Oxygenated Fuels,” is authored by Xiao Liu, Chung K. Law, Bin Yang. Full text of the open access paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.10.012. For more information about Engineering, visit the website at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/engineering.