Production of liquid hydrocarbon fuels with 3-pentanone and platform molecules derived from lignocellulose

Diesel or jet fuel range C₁₀-C₁₇ branched and cyclic alkanes were produced by reaction of 3-pentanone derived from lactic acid with bio-based aldehydes through aldol condensation followed by hydrodeoxygenation. DBU (1,8-diazabicycloundec-7-ene) was identified as an efficient catalyst for the aldol reaction of 3-pentanone with furan based aldehydes, and the selectivity of single or double aldol condensation product could be easily controlled by adjusting the reaction temperature. For the reaction with aromatic aldehydes, aluminium phosphate demonstrated a higher catalytic activity than DBU and mechanisms were proposed for the difference in the catalytic activity. The final hydrodeoxygenation step could be achieved by using a simple Pd/C + H-beta zeolite system, excellent selectivity was observed under the present system, the clean formation of hydrocarbons with a narrow distribution of alkanes occurred in most cases.