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Production of Dimethylfuran from Hydroxymethylfurfural, a Biomass Derived Product, using a Copper-Ruthenium Catalyst Coated Membrane
John Stanford and Dr. Mary Rezac
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
As non-renewable fossil fuels are depleted and the demand for transportation fuels increase, suitable sustainable alternatives are needed. Ethanol is the only currently mass produced liquid fuel from renewable sources but does suffer from some limitations. An attractive alternative is 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), which has physical characteristics more closely resembling that of gasoline. For example, the energy content of DMF is 31.5 MJ/L, whereas those of gasoline and ethanol are 32.2 MJ/L and 23 MJ/L, respectively.
Hydroxymethylfurfural is a biomass-based platform chemical that can be used in a hydrogenolysis reaction to produce DMF. Recent work has been performed on this reaction using a copper-ruthenium catalyst with a continuously stirred reactor or plug flow reactor[1]. A new method is proposed using a catalyst coated polyetherimide membrane reactor that allows for a direct and abundant supply of hydrogen to the catalytic sites on the membrane. The polyetherimide membranes utilized are selective for hydrogen transport. Based on the previous work, temperature and pressure studies will begin at 220°C and 2 bar of H2, respectively, and proceed accordingly. Catalytic activity of the membrane reactor will be evaluated. Butanol will be the initial solvent used and others may be explored.
If shown to be adequately successful, the hydrogenolysis reaction of HMF to DMF using a catalyst coated membrane will serve as a model reaction for other biorefinery operations.
[1] Roman-Leshkov, Y., Barrett, C.J., Jiu, Z.Y., Dumesic, J.A., Production of Dimethylfuran for liquid fuels from biomass-derived carbohydrates, Nature 447 (2007) p. 982.