Solvent-free synthesis of C9 and C10 branched alkanes with furfural and 3-pentanone from lignocellulose

• A new solvent free synthetic route for lignocellulosic bio-jet fuel was developed.
• 3-Pentanone was first used as feedstock to produce jet fuel range branched alkanes.
• Liquid oxygenate 1A was obtained by aldol condensation of furfural and 3-pentanone.
• C9 and C10 branched alkanes with low freezing points were obtained from HDO of 1A.
• Ni-Cu/SiO2 showed the best performance among the investigated HDO catalysts.

Jet fuel range branched alkanes were first synthesized under solvent-free conditions by the aldol condensation of furfural and 3-pentanone from lignocellulose followed by the one-step hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Among the investigated solid base catalysts, CaO and KF/Al2O3 demonstrated the highest activity for the aldol condensation reaction of furfural and 3-pentanone. The aldol condensation product of furfural and 3-pentanone (liquid at room temperature) was directly hydrodeoxygenated to 4-methyl-nonane and 4-methyl-octane. These alkanes have low freezing points (174.1 K and 159.8 K) and can be blended into jet fuel without hydroisomerization. Among the investigated HDO catalysts, the Ni-Cu/SiO2 exhibited the best performance.

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