Integrated Conversion of Cellulose to High-Density Aviation Fuel

Abstract

High-density polycycloalkanes were first produced with cellulose by a highly integrated route that features a selective hydrogenolysis of cellulose to 2,5hexanedione under mild conditions, followed by the direct synthesis of polycycloalkanes with 2,5-hexanedione and hydrogen over a dual-bed catalyst system. The polycycloalkane mixture as obtained has a high density (0.88 g mL À1 ) and low freezing point (225 K). In real application, they can be used as advanced aviation fuel or additives to improve the volumetric heat values of conventional aviation fuels.

Synthesis of Bio‐Based Methylcyclopentadiene from 2,5‐Hexanedione: A Sustainable Route to High Energy Density Jet Fuels

“…The pathway described above resulted in a 38 % overall yield for the conversion of 1 to 4/5 . However, other researchers have reported that nearly quantitative yields of 2 can be obtained through the use of a biphasic reaction system [47] or a solid base catalyst [48] . In addition, although we achieved a 75 % isolated yield of 3 after the chemoselective hydrogenation step, we obtained a 98 % conversion of 2 to 3 .…”

“…Therefore, it may be feasible to improve the yield of 4/5 to greater than 80 %. Recent work by Zhang et al [48] . has demonstrated a 71.2 % yield of 1 from cellulose.…”

“…Further improvements in the yield are likely achievable through more careful control of the temperature and reaction time through advanced synthetic techniques such as flow chemistry [52] . Alternatively, the dimers and trimers can be converted to C12 and C18 cycloalkane‐based fuels by hydrodeoxygenation [48] …”

“…More recently, Zhang demonstrated the conversion of CMF to 1 via a one‐pot hydrodechlorination/hydrogenolysis/hydrolysis step. 2 was then produced via cyclization with an MgO catalyst at 453 K [48] . 2 can be converted to 3‐methyl‐2‐cyclopenten‐1‐ol [MCP ( 3 )] via chemoselective hydrogenation of the carbonyl group.…”

Characterization of the Soluble Products Formed during the Hydrothermal Conversion of Biomass-Derived Furanic Compounds by Using LC–MS/MS

“… 5 − 9 Among these downstream compounds, 2,5-diformylfuran and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid could be used as monomers for renewable polyesters, while 2,5-hexanedione, 2,5-dimethylfuran, cyclopentanone, and furfuryl alcohol all could be used to produce liquid fuels. 10 − 14 Due to the versatility of these biomass-derived furanic compounds, great efforts are devoted to efficiently produce HMF and furfural from renewable biomass during the past decades.…”