WARF TECHNOLOGIES

Alkanes produced from carbohydrates could provide a renewable source of transportation fuel to complement the rapidly growing production of bio-diesel from vegetable oils and animal fats.

UW-Madison researchers have developed a practical and energy-efficient catalytic process for producing high-quality, long-chain liquid fuels from carbohydrates. The multi-stage process uses combinations of self- and crossed-aldol condensation reactions, dehydration reactions and hydrogenation reactions to yield alkane, alkene and ether products.

Preferably, this process starts with an acid-catalyzed dehydration of biomass-derived carbohydrates. Then an aqueous-phase aldol condensation reaction yields large organic compounds, which are converted into long-chain alkanes via dehydration and/or hydrogenation. The aldol condensation reaction takes place in the presence of a stable, recyclable and solid-base catalyst, which is comprised of magnesium, zirconium, oxygen and possibly palladium.

• Biofuel production
• Production of useful feedstocks for making organic chemicals

• Alkanes can be used as sulfur-free fuel components
• Aldol condensation reactions occur in the aqueous phase, enabling the generation of alkanes from renewable resources
• Unlike the conversion of glucose to ethanol, this reaction does not require an energy-intensive distillation step—alkanes spontaneously separate from the aqueous solvent
• Environmentally friendly
• Catalyst maintains significant activity after recycling and is potentially useful in other aqueous-phase catalyzed reactions
• Reactions are appropriate for many types of reactors, including batch, semi-batch and continuous flow reactors

For More Information About the Inventors

• George Huber

Tech Fields

• Clean Technology : Biobased & renewable chemicals & fuels
• Materials & Chemicals : Synthesis