Abstract
The biomass-derived platform molecule levulinic acid is converted into the angelica lactone dimer (ALD) in high overall yield using simple inorganic catalysts. Hydrodecarboxylation of ALD using a Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst under moderate hydrogen gas pressure at high temperatures generates branched C8–C9 hydrocarbons in nearly quantitative yield consuming as little as a single equivalent of external hydrogen. These molecules are high-octane “drop-in” equivalents of isoalkanes used in commercial gasoline. Catalytic hydrodecarboxylation is presented as a highly effective means to reduce hydrogen demand in biomass-to-biofuel conversion technologies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2622-2626 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | ChemCatChem |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 24 2017 |
Keywords
- biofuels
- biomass
- hydrocarbons
- hydrodecarboxylation
- isoalkanes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Catalysis
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry