Production of Jet Fuel and Butadiene from Lignocellulose and Lignocellulosic Platform Chemicals

With the reduction of fossil energy reserves, increasing concerns of environmental pollutions and greenhouse gases emissions, more and more attentions have been payed to developing green and sustainable chemicals and fuels. Lignocellulose, which is generated numerously every year in nature, is a feasible alternative to fossil resources.

A process employing solid acid catalyst preparation, dehydration, C-C coupling techniques and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is being developed to convert lignocellulosic platform chemicals (including furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and 2,3-butanediol) to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), butadiene and jet fuel. First, lignocellulosic materials, such as bagasse and straw, are converted to solid acid by Incomplete carbonization and H₂SO₄ sulfonation subsequently. Next, the prepared lignocellulose based catalyst and commercial Zeolite catalyst are used to catalyze 2,3-butanediol dehydration reaction that can produce methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) at low temperatures and butadiene at high temperatures. Further, by undergoing aldol condensation and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) subsequently, MEK and furfural (or HMF) can be converted to C9-C14 (or C10-C16) linear and branched hydrocarbons that meet the requirements of jet fuels. The aldol condensation kinetics are also investigated to make molecular size distributions in the final hydrocarbons controllable.