Conversion of acetone and mixed ketones to hydrocarbons using HZSM-5 catalyst in the carboxylate platform

Abstract

In this study, two different feeds were treated to produce hydrocarbons: (1) reagent-grade acetone, and (2) mixed ketones obtained from lignocellulosic biomass via the carboxylate platform. Acetone and mixed ketones underwent catalytic self-condensation over HZSM-5. For acetone, HZSM-5(80) was used, and the experiments were conducted in two sets: (1) vary temperature (305–415°C) at P = 101 kPa (abs) and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) = 1.3 h–1; (2) vary WHSV (1.3–7.9 h–1) at T = 350 and 415°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs). For acetone over HZSM-5(280), the experiments were conducted in two sets: (1) vary WHSV (1.3–6.5 h–1) at T = 415°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs); and (2) vary WHSV (1.3–11.8 h–1) at P = 790 kPa (abs) and T = 415°C. For mixed ketones, HZSM-5(280) was used at WHSV = 1.9 h–1, T = 430–590°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs). For acetone at higher temperatures, the conversion was 100% and the liquid products were aromatics centered on C8. At low temperatures, conversion was less and the carbon liquid distribution was centered on C9 (mainly mesitylene). For mixed ketones, catalyst deactivation was higher causing product concentrations to change over time, and the highest conversion reached was 40%.

The Production of Isophorone

“…For the self-condensation of acetone to isophorone, basic catalysts are primarily used [106,148]. The acid-catalyzed condensation, with sulfuric acid or acidic zeolites, yields mesitylene as the main product [189][190][191][192][193][194]. As basic catalysts, either homogeneous or heterogeneous ones can be used [5,106,195].…”