High density cyclic fuels derived from linear sesquiterpenes

摘要

A method to generate cyclic hydrocarbons from farnesene to increase both the density and net heat of combustion of the product fuels. The high density hydrocarbons produced by this method have applications for missile, UAV, jet, and diesel propulsion.

主权项

1. A method for synthesizing cyclic fuel, comprising:
providing a feedstock including a linear sesquiterpene; producing a first mixture by metathesizing said feedstock from about 1 hour to about 24 hours using a metathesis catalyst at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 150° C. under an inert-gas atmosphere, wherein said metathesizing yields methylcyclopentadiene (MCPD) and at least one branched-chain hydrocarbon; producing a second mixture by reacting said first mixture from about 0.3 hours to about 24 hours using a first acidic catalyst at a temperature of from about 15° C. to about 350° C., wherein said reacting yields at least one Diels-Alder cyclo-addition adduct; producing a third mixture by removing from said second mixture said first acidic catalyst; producing a fourth mixture by hydrogenating said third mixture from about 1 hour to about 24 hours with hydrogen gas at pressures ranging from about 1 atm to about 100 atm using a hydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 250° C. yielding a hydrogenated C9 hydrocarbon and at least one hydrogenated said Diels-Alder cyclo-addition adduct; producing a fifth mixture by isomerizing said fourth mixture from about 0.3 hours to about 48 hours using a second acidic catalyst at temperatures ranging from about 15° C. to about 350° C. under an inert-gas atmosphere, wherein said isomerizing yields at least one alkyl-adamantane; and distilling said fifth mixture to produce said cyclic fuel.