Korean Chemical Engineering Research, Vol.54, No.4, 519-526, August, 2016
Synthesis of Renewable Jet Fuel Precursors from C-C Bond Condensation of Furfural and Ethyl Levulinate in Water
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Biomass derived jet fuel is proven as a potential alternative for the currently used fossil oriented energy. The efficient production of jet fuel precursor with special molecular structure is prerequisite in producing biomass derived jet fuel. We synthesized a new jet fuel precursor containing branched C15 framework by aldol condensation of furfural (FA) and ethyl levulinate (EL), where the latter of two could be easily produced from lignocellulose by acid catalyzed processes. The highest yield of 56% for target jet fuel precursor could be obtained at the optimal reaction condition (molar ratio of FA/EL of 2, 323 K, 50 min) by using KOH as catalyst. The chemical structure of C15 precursor was specified as (3E, 5E)-6-(furan-2-yl)-3-(furan-2-ylmethylene)-4-oxohex-5-enoic acid (F2E). For stabilization, this yellowish solid precursor was hydrogenated at low temperature to obtain C=C bonds saturated product, and the chemical structure was proposed as 4-oxo-6-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-3-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-methyl hexanoic acid (H-F2E). The successful synthesis of the new jet fuel precursors showed the significance that branched jet fuel could be potentially produced from biomass derived FA and EL via fewer steps.
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