(6ds) A Novel Route for the Flexible Preparation of Hydrocarbon Jet Fuels and Valuable Chemicals from Biomass-Based Platform Chemicals: A Case of Using 2, 3-Butanediol As a Feedstock

With the reduction of fossil energy reserves, increasing concerns of environmental pollutions and greenhouse gas emissions, considerable efforts and processes have been made for the production of bio-based chemicals and fuels to reduce the reliance on fossil resources. 2, 3-butanediol (BDO) is one of the most promising platform bio-based chemicals, which can be produced by fermentation of sugar, lignocellulosic wastes, glycerol and syngas.

A process employing acid catalysis dehydration, C-C coupling technics, and hydrodeoxygenation is being developed to convert BDO to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl-propanol (MPA), (2-ethyl-2, 4, 5-trimethyl-1, 3-dioxolane, ETMD), butadiene, and jet fuel. First, the products of BDO dehydration is completely detected, identified and characterized, and the mechanism is completely investigated. Next, the kinetic model of BDO dehydration is established to control the selectivity of variable products according to the marketing demand. Besides widely applications of MEK, the ETMD formed by ketalization of MEK and BDO, was reported as a promising next generation fuel additive. Then, by undergoing the aldol condensation and hydrodeoxygenation, MEK and MPA can be further converted to C8~C12 linear and branched hydrocarbons that meet the requirements of jet fuels. The aldol condensation kinetics are also investigated to make molecular size distributions in the final hydrocarbons controllable.

Research Interests: biomass conversion, biomass utilization, biofuel

Teaching Interests: biomass utilization，natural product synthesis