Laminar Solid Acid Catalysts for the Production of Biofuels From Algal Lipids

Many different sources for alternative fuels are being explored to potentially replace the Nation's current dependence on foreign oil. Algae have been investigated for more than two decades as a potential fuel source due to their high lipid content and rapid growth rate. While these lipids can be readily converted into biodiesel, the U.S. consumption of diesel is far less than the consumption of gasoline. Thus, technology to convert lipids into gasoline alternatives would have a greater impact on the petroleum consumption in the U.S. This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of bifunctional laminar based solid acid catalysts for the conversion of algal lipids into alternatives for petroleum based gasoline and diesel. Specifically, the effect of metals on the type, number, and strength of the acid sites will be investigated to determine the relationship between the acid site properties and the selectivity and yield of liquid hydrocarbon fuels.