Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Jesse Quentin Bond

James Anthony Dumesic

David Martin Alonso

Thatcher W Root

Ryan Michael West

Mei Chia

Dong Wang

A process for producing hydrocarbons, especially Cor larger alkenes, from lactones, hydroxy-carboxylic acids, alkene-carboxylic acids, alcohols, or mixtures thereof, or an aqueous solution of lactones, hydroxy-carboxylic acids, alkene-carboxylic acids, alcohols, or mixtures thereof is described. The process includes reacting the starting materials with a first acid catalyst to yield a first product mixture. The first product mixture is then reacted with a second acid catalyst (which can be the same or different from the first acid catalyst) to yield a second product mixture comprising hydrocarbons, for example alkenes having a chain length of C. The process is suitable for producing hydrocarbons that can be used in or as liquid transportation fuels.

Integrated process and apparatus to produce hydrocarbons from aqueous solutions of lactones, hydroxy-carboxylic acids, alkene-carboxylic acids, and/or alcohols

A method to produce levulinic acid (LA) and &#x3b3;-valerolactone (GVL) from biomass-derived cellulose by selective extraction of LA by alkylphenol (AP) and hydrogenation of LA, in which mineral acid used in the method is recycled and the final concentration of GVL is increased by successive extraction/hydrogenation steps to allow for effective separation by distillation.

Method to produce and recover levulinic acid and/or gamma-valerolactone from aqueous solutions using alkylphenols

Described is a catalytic process for converting biomass to furan derivatives (e.g., furfural, furfuryl alcohol, etc.) using a biphasic reactor containing a reactive aqueous phase and an organic extracting phase containing an alkylphenol. The process provides a cost-effective route for producing furfural, furfuryl alcohol, levulinic acid hydroxymethylfurfural, &#x3b3;-valerolactone, and the like. The products formed are useful as value-added intermediates to produce polymers, as precursors to diesel fuel, and as fuel additives.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Jesse Quentin Bond