Lignin-derived multi-cyclic high density biofuel by alkylation and hydrogenated intramolecular cyclization. (2nd February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nie, Genkuo; Zhang, Xiangwen; Han, Peijuan; Xie, Junjian; Pan, Lun; Wang, Li; Zou, Ji-Jun
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 158 (2017)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 69
• Publication Date: 2017-02-02
• Subjects: Alkylation -- Hydrogenation -- Intramolecular cyclization -- Diphenylmethane -- Perhydrofluorene; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2016.10.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Abstract: Biofuels are important alternative for fossil-based fuel but they have either relatively low density or high freezing point and viscosity. Here we reported a simple and efficient route to synthesis biofuel with density comparable to widely used JP-10 fuel as well as good low-temperature properties. Substituted diphenyl methane was synthesized by acid catalytic alkylation of lignin-derived phenols (phenol, anisole, guaiacol) with benzyl ether or benzyl alcohols, and MMT-K10 exhibits better activity than HPW, Amberlyst-15, and Al-MCM-41, due to the modest acid strength and open lamellar structure. High selectivity along with good-to-excellent conversion was obtained under optimized conditions regardless of different reactant used. Then the alkylated product was subjected to hydrogenation with the presence of Pd/C and HZSM-5, and interestingly, intramolecular cyclization reaction occurred to produce a large amount of perhydrofluorene as well as dicyclohexylmethane. Subsequently, biofuel with density as high as 0.93 g/mL and freezing point as low as −40.0 °C was obtained, which surpasses the state-of-art of biofuel reported. Graphical abstract: Highlights: High-density biofuel is synthesized from lignin-derived phenols. Biofuel has higher density and lower freezing point compared with literature. MMT-K10 selectively catalyzes alkylation of phenols with benzyl ether. Perhydrofluorene is formed by hydrogenated intramolecular cyclization.