Transformation of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid fuels is highly desired to meet the ever growing demand for transportation fuels while the fossil resources are continuously depleting. Production of diesel and jet fuel from biomass is on high demand and particularly challenging since it involves building higher molecular weight carbonaceous products (C11?C23 and C8?C16, respectively). One of the main concerns during these transformations may include the selectivity to desired type of fuel (diesel/jet fuel) at high production yield. However, the chemical/biological transformations of carbohydrate portion of the biomass offer attractive platform molecules, which could be conveniently used for the selective production of either diesel or jet fuel. Recently, we have identified an efficient and selective process for the production of jet fuels through base catalyzed condensation reactions of ketones derived from biomass. The syntheses of various ketones from furanic platform molecules and biologically derived platform molecules have already been demonstrated by various research groups.1,2 The current work facilitates the utility of the above ketones towards the production of jet fuels. The traditional fuel synthesis from furanic platform molecules involves acid/base catalyzed carbon?carbon formation to produce furan containing precursors and subsequent hydrodeoxygenation to hydrocarbons. Usually, the latter step is highly energy intensive since they involve cleavage of multiple C�O bonds of furan precursors which are accessed by the catalysts with difficulties. The current approach emphasizes the utilization of non-furanic fuel precursors during hydrodeoxygenation to minimize the energy requirement overall.  Additionally, fuels derived from the condensation of ketones proved to have superior pour point which is highly essential for jet fuel applications.1.         Corma, A.; de la Torre, O.; Renz, M. Energy & Environmental Science 2012 , 5, 6328.2.         Anbarasan, P.; Baer, Z. C.; Sreekumar, S.; Gross, E.; Binder, J. B.; Blanch, H. W.; Clark, D. S.; Toste, F. D. Nature 2012 , 491, 235.

Solid base catalyzed condensations of biomass-derived ketones for the production of jet fuels

248th National Meeting (2014)

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