Dehydration of Fermented Isobutanol for the Production of Renewable Chemicals and Fuels

Abstract

Fermented 2-methyl-1-propanol (isobutanol) can be used directly as a biofuel or can be catalytically dehydrated to 2-methylpropene (isobutylene), which serves as a platform molecule for synthesizing other fuels or chemicals. The dehydration reaction was studied over alumina catalysts to determine the impact of process conditions and model compound impurities from fermentation. No significant impurity effects were observed over short (8 h) timescales and dehydration was demonstrated at high conversion and with high selectivity to isobutylene.

Bio-jet fuel conversion technologies

“…Iso-butanol produced from a process such as Escherichia coli fermentation is dehydrated to a mixture of isobutene, n-butene (1-butene), and 2-butene (cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene) [74]. Acidic catalyst such as ZSM-5 zeolites, Y-type zeolites, and Amberlyst acidic resins can be used to catalyze a dehydration reaction, and different catalysts affect the selectivity of isobutene and the overall linear butenes [74] 1 .…”

Alternative thermochemical routes for aviation biofuels via alcohols synthesis: Process modeling, techno-economic assessment and comparison

“…Afterwards, the isobutanol undergoes dehydration for the corresponding alkene formation (isobutene), in presence of alumina. From [65] it is confirmed that high isobutylene conversion and high selectivity to isobutylene can be achieved with no significant impurity effects. The carbon chain growth is performed in the next reactor where olefins oligomerization takes place.…”

“…Several relevant studies have proved that catalysts such alumina, Ru, Amberlyst acidic resins and ZSM-5 zeolites have an efficient effect on alcohols dehydration under high pressure [65]. Makarova et al [66] suggested a two step mechanics for n-butanol dehydration; the reaction proceeds via fast ether formation (dibutyl ether -C 8 H 18 O) and subsequent slower decomposition of ether.…”

Transformation of Isobutyl Alcohol to Aromatics over Zeolite-Based Catalysts

“…9,10 Recently, commercially available biobutanol isomers, obtained from fermentable biomass-derived sugars, have been emerging as a renewable source for fuel. 11,12 Several enterprises have disclosed or announced their commercial processes for the production of biobutanols. Especially, the number of bioisobutyl alcohol producers continues to grow, which ensures availability on a large scale.…”