Sustainable Production of Fuels and Missile Propellants
Abstract
This Program NEPTUNE research project involves the deployment of catalytic and electrochemical technologies to efficiently and economically convert renewable platform molecules into biobased, net-zero carbon fuels, with a major focus on densely branched alkanes that can serve as biobased gasoline/aviation fuel blendstocks and polycyclic hydrocarbons as high-energy tactical fuels. The objectives are responsive to key sponsor needs as described: (Task 1) Engineering the levulinic acid to C8-C9 branched alkane/cycloalkane route to gasolinetype fuels. In preliminary work, we have demonstrated the technical feasibility of converting levulinic acid, a platform molecule generated in high yield directly from biomass, into branched hydrocarbons suitable for use in use in gasoline and aviation type fuels. The commercial advantage of this technology is that isoalkanes, which constitute the largest consumer fuel market, are normally very difficult to produce from lignocellulose. The method involves highly efficient steps starting from raw biomass all the way to liquid hydrocarbons. Now that the technology has been proven at the bench, it is ready to be progressed to the next level, i.e. optimization and scale up for deployment/commercial translation. The plan here is to engineer a continuous process at the liter scale to ready it for ultimate piloting to hundreds of liters. (Task 2) Technology development and engineering of the electrochemical production of C8-C20 isoalkane/cycloakane jet fuels. This activity describes the development of a highly efficient electrochemical cell for the oligomerization of biogenic acetone. Acetone is efficiently derived from biomass via the acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation by Clostridia. In preliminary work, we have obtained a mixture of highly branched alkanes and cycloalkanes that are related to the product in Task 1 but higher in molecular weight, ideal for use in aviation fuel, a renewable fuel market that is largely underdeveloped (compared to diesel-type fuels). A model electrochemical cell was built in a feasibility study and the electrolysis product, after hydrodeoxygenation, showed conversion to a multicomponent hydrocarbon mixture. There remains much to be accomplished in the way of system development and product analysis, but it is advantageous that there is already have a successful prototype to work from. (Task 3) Technology development of the levulinic acid route to cyclopentadienes and therefrom to high-energy polycyclic hydrocarbons. We have recently concluded a model study of the basecatalyzed dimerization of levulinic acid esters (cf. Task 1) to give cyclopentadienes. Hydrodecarboxylation/ hydrodeoxygenation of these products leads to densely branched, super highoctane cyclopentanes. In collaboration with our Problem Sponsor partner at the NAWCWD, we propose here to investigate the cycloaddition of the cyclopentadienes with olefins, which will give substituted bicycloalkanes. Such compounds are related to the tactical synthetic fuel JP-10, used for example by the Tomahawk jet-powered cruise missile. A wide range of new, highpowered, biobased propellants will be produced using this approach. DoD Impact: In (1)?(3) above, arguments can be made for a win in terms not only of technological capability advancement and environmental stewardship, but also for the economics of fuel procurement for the Navy, which will be competitive with that of petroleum
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112073
Entities
People
- Mark Mascal
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Davis