High density fuels from isoprene

摘要

A method for producing high density fuels from isoprene which can be produced via biosynthetic routes using biomass sugars as feedstock. This allows for the production of isoprene and isoprene-derived fuels from abundant waste materials with the potential to significantly reduce DoD carbon emissions. Embodiments of the invention describe a method for conversion of isoprene to full performance jet and diesel fuels. Isoprene can be selectively oligomerized to generate a distribution of branched chain hydrocarbons. Combination of an oligomerization catalyst with a metathesis catalyst allows for the synthesis of high density cyclic fuels with performance advantages (increased density and volumetric net heat of combustion) over conventional petroleum-based fuels.

主权项

1. A method for converting isoprene into fuels, comprising:
reacting isoprene with at least one Ziegler-Natta type catalyst based on first metal(s) in the presence of at least one co-catalyst to produce an oligomer mixture of dimers, trimers, and tetramers; hydrogenating said oligomer mixture under a hydrogen atmosphere with at least one heterogeneous catalyst based on second metal(s) at pressures between about 0.1 atmosphere and about 100 atmosphere and at temperatures ranging from about ambient to about 250° C. to produce a substantially or completely saturated hydrocarbon mixture of dimers, trimers, and tetramers; and purifying said hydrocarbon mixture by removing said heterogeneous catalyst to produce substantially or completely saturated fuels.