Conversion of biomass platform molecules into fuel additives and liquid hydrocarbon fuels

Abstract

In this work some relevant processes for the preparation of liquid hydrocarbon fuels and fuel additives from cellulose, hemicellulose and triglycerides derived platform molecules are discussed. Thus, it is shown that a series of platform molecules such as levulinic acid, furans, fatty acids and polyols can be converted into a variety of fuel additives through catalytic transformations that include reduction, esterification, etherification, and acetalization reactions. Moreover, we will show that liquid hydrocarbon fuels can be obtained by combining oxygen removal processes (e.g. dehydration, hydrogenolysis, hydrogenation, decarbonylation/descarboxylation etc.) with the adjustment of the molecular weight via C-C coupling reactions (e.g. aldol condensation, hydroxyalkylation, oligomerization, ketonization) of the reactive platform molecules.

Recycling of Sulfuric Acid in the Valorization of Biomass Residues

“…5-hydroxymethyl-furfural (5-HMF) [2], levulinic acid (LA) [3], γ-valerolactone (GVL) [4], 2-furfural (FAL) [5], furfuryl alcohol (FOL) [6], just to name a few. Among these molecules, LA and its derivatives including levulinate esters [7] and GVL [4], have several established promising applications (Fig. 1), and therefore, their production and conversion have been well studied.…”

Homogeneous Catalyzed Reactions of Levulinic Acid: To γ‐Valerolactone and Beyond

“…[15][16][17][18][19] The high energy density, lower flammablity, hydrophobic nature, low toxicity and high specific gravity of 2-MTHF make it suitable for use as fuel; thus 2-MTHF has been identified a nonpetroleum liquid fuel which can be substituted for or blended with gasoline. 2-MTHF has also been reported to be a better blend with gasoline than methanol and can be more easily integrated into the distribution stream of a refinery.…”

“…[14] 2-MTHF is a green alternative to THF that favourable physical and chemical characteristics such as higher boiling point (80.2 o C), water immiscibility, reactivity and biodegredation pathways. [15][16][17][18][19] 2-MTHF can be used a component of P-series fuel, a non-petroleum liquid fuel which can be substituted for or blended with gasoline. [7,16] The transformation of LA to GVL and beyond typically involves a series of consecutive catalytic dehydration and reduction steps; although oxidative pathways are also possible.…”

Synthesis of high quality alkyl naphthenic kerosene by reacting an oil refinery with a biomass refinery stream

“…1, 2,7 HMF is produced by acid dehydration of C6 carbohydrates such as fructose, glucose or polymeric carbohydrates such as starch, inulin, cellulose and raw biomass, being Dfructose the feed of choice. While aqueous processes appears to be the most convenient from an environmental point of view, they are not efficient since under acidic aqueous conditions, polymerization and hydrolysis of HMF to levulinic and formic acid occur giving low yield of HMF.…”

“…2,15 For instance Levulinic acid (LA) can be converted into liquid hydrocarbon fuels via gamma 4 valerolactone through two routes. One of them involves the ring opening of GVL into pentenoic acid isomers which can be subsequently decarboxylated over a SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst producing an equimolar mixture of butenes and CO 2 .…”