Production of Liquid Fuel by Catalytic Reformation of Carbohydrates in Energy Crops

Abstract:

Gamma-valerolactone (GVL) represents a promising future source for both fuel alternatives and renewable materials. It can be formed from the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA). However, when lower cost unprocessed biomass is utilized to form levulinic and formic acid, other organic compounds are created, primarily from the hemicelluloses portion. Therefore a two-stage conversion process was designed starting with a mild acid extraction to remove the majority of the pentoses while maintaining the hexose sugars in a solid form utilizing previously described optimized conditions. Mild sulfuric acid extraction experiments on hybrid poplar samples were performed and optimized. The resulting hexosan enriched biomass was then subjected to a series of experiments employing high sulfuric acid and temperature to form LA and FA with yield of over 60% achieved. Finally, the LA and FA were catalytically converted to GVL, which could be purified through solvent extraction with nearly 100% conversion achieved.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 887-888)
• Pages: 570-574
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.887-888.570
• Online since: February 2014
• Authors: Chun Hui Zhang*, Yu Liu, Fan Gong Kong
• Keywords: Catalysis, Extraction, Hydrogenation, Valerolactone

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