Table 1 Comparison of fuel properties of different fuels [Refs. (Kiss et al. 2016; Balat 2011; Prakash et al. 2016)]

Chemical structure

C4 to C12 and ethanol ≤ 10%

CH₃OH

C₂H₅OH

C₃H₈OH

C₃H₈O

H₂

N/A

Feedstock

Crude oil

Natural gas, coal, or, woody biomass

Corn, grains, or agri waste (cellulose)

Corn, grains, or agri waste (cellulose)

Corn, grains, or agri waste (cellulose)

Natural gas, methanol, and electrolysis of water

Coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydroelectric, wind and solar

Boiling point (°C)

35–200

64.7

78.4

117.7

82.6

N/A

N/A

Energy content (lower heating value) (BTU/gallon)

112,114

− 116,090

57,250

76,330

99,837

–

51,585

3414 BTU/kWh

Energy content (higher heating value) (BTU/gallon)

120,388

− 124,340

65,200

84,530

108,458

–

61,013

3414 BTU/kWh

Physical state

Liquid

Liquid

Liquid

Liquid

Liquid

Compressed gas

N/A

Pump octane number

84–93

112

110

87

–

130+

N/A

Flash point (°C)

− 43

11

13

35

12–25

N/A

N/A

Autoignition temperature (°C)

257

480

434

385

–

565–582

N/A