Propene is an important industrial chemical intermediate used in the synthesis of a variety of chemical, plastic, and liquid fuel products; largely the production of polypropylene. Recent work at NREL and elsewhere has investigated the use of PHB (Poly(β-hydroxybutyrate)) as an effective, renewable source of propene. PHB is a biopolymer created by many microorganisms where it is used as an intercellular energy and carbon storage material. The thermal degradation of this bio-polymer results in efficient conversion to the dehydrated monomer unit, crotonic acid. Subsequent thermal conversion of crotonic acid results in near 100% selectivity to propene and carbon dioxide. However, the conversion efficiency tapers off at 70-80%. Theoretical work on the bimolecular conversion of organic acids has suggested that solid acid catalysts could be used to increase the conversion efficiency, lower the reactor temperatures, and still retaining the high selectivity to propene. We test this hypothesis using a variety of acidic catalysts including HZSM-5, and amorphorous aluminosilicates.

Investigating the efficient conversion of unsaturated acids to olefins over acid catalysts

249th National Meeting (2015)

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