สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

«“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë Ú˜ ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Ú ‡¡.¬.-¡‘ .¬. ÚıÙı ª√’ ¥“ «‘ ∫Ÿ ≈¬å «— ¥‘ Ï Abstract Development of Biomass Liquid Fuels for Transportation in Thailand Prida Wibulswas Fellow, the Academy of Science, the Royal Institute, Thailand The transport sector in Thailand consumes more than 60 per cent of the total demand for petro- leum products in the country. Diesel and gasoline account for about 50 per cent and 30 per cent of the petroleum products consumed in the transport sector. As a result, carbon dioxide emission from the transport sector is responsible for about 36 per cent of the total emissions from the utilization of fossil fuels in the country. Leaded gasoline has been phased out in Thailand since 1997. Methyl tertiary butyl ether, MTBE, has been used to increase the octane rating of gasoline. Several studies confirmed that MTBE dis- solves and pollutes water supplies; however ethanol seems to be a good substitute. Thailand has enough surplus cassava, sugar cane and molasses to produce daily 3 million liters of anhydrous ethanol, which would be sufficient for producing a 15 per cent ethanol-gasoline blend that could be used by all spark ignition engines in the country. The estimated production cost of anhydrous etha- nol in Thailand is approximately US$ 0.22 per liter. To reduce the production cost, studies on opti- mization of the processes involved and equipment design are recommended. Demand for diesel fuel in Thailand is higher than the total production capacity of local refiner- ies. Imported diesel oil accounts for about 14 per cent of the total demand. Studies and tests in Thailand show that crude palm oil can be blended and used in agricultural and marine compression- ignition engines with acceptable emission quality if the amount of palm oil is kept below 5 per cent. An initial study indicated that bio-diesel could be economically produced from used cooking oil; such a fuel could be used as a diesel substitute. Studies on other suitable plant oils and increased palm oil production are recommended. In addition to the mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions, utilization of ethanol and palm oil will help increase the incomes of farmers and reduce the expenditure of foreign exchange required for imported products. Further research, development, promotion and utilization of ethanol, palm oil and bio-diesel should be urgently implemented by the government. Key words : gasoline, biomass, diesel, ethanol, palm oil ÙÛÛ