A new process for the production of bio-jet fuel precursors from common carbohydrate sources, using CO2 as a green catalyst.

Abstract

With the demand for greener bio-fuels ever increasing, new methods for their production using environmentally friendly catalysts for their production are gaining interest. This work expands on recent work looking at the use of CO2 as a catalyst in the formation of bio-jet fuel precursors from common carbohydrates. CO2 used as both the catalyst in dehydration of glucose to Hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) and aldol condensation with acetone. This work uses a two-step, one-pot reaction for the conversion of common household materials (“soda pop” and acetone “nail polish remover”) to bio-jet fuel precursors. To show the effectiveness of CO2 as a catalyst in this system and the ease of reaction, this work uses carbonated beverages (“soda pop”), as the source for sugars and catalyst, along with added acetone to produce the bio-jet fuel precursors. These precursors are then hydrodeoxygenated and hydrogenated to produce linear hydrocarbons. This work shows that the precursors for bio-jet fuel can be produced using the CO2 present in “soda pop” as a green catalyst from a common source. Additionally through the use of flow chemistry it is shown that it is possible to produce bio-jet fuels from these precursors using commercially available catalysts.

Discipline: Chemistry

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Roland Lee