Catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass generates water-soluble low molecular weight oxygenates such as acetic acid, acetone, furfural, butanone, guaiacol, phenol, and many others, which are not suitable for conventional hydrocarbon fuel applications. A new catalyst has been developed that simultaneously catalyzes alkylation, hydrodeoxygenation, and hydrogenation of these small oxygenate molecules in aqueous medium to produce C6 to C15 hydrocarbons in a one-pot synthesis. In these syntheses, acetic acid, propionic acid, butanone, pentanone, heptanone, other aldehydes and ketones alkylate furfural to produce linear and branched alkanes. The reactions occurred sequentially on a multicomponent catalyst. Initially, acetic and propionic acids, 2,3-butanedione, and furfural were reduced to acetaldehyde, propanone, butanone, furan, and methylfuran respectively, which then reacted in various combinations to form C6 to C15 hydrocarbons. All the reactions occurred in the aqueous media at 300-350 °C. The gaseous products included low molecular weight hydrocarbons such as methane, propane, butane, and pentane. Thus, it has been demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to produce a wide range of hydrocarbons from low molecular weight biomass derived oxygenates through carbonyl alkylation reactions.

Carbonyl alkylation of furan compounds to produce long-chain hydrocarbons from low molecular weight biomass oxygenates

2019 Spring National Meeting

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