Biphasic solvent catalytic process for the direct production of light naphtha from carbohydrate-containing feedstock

US10407623B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven of KU Leuven Research & Development · BE

Inventors

• Michiel J. Dusselier · Kessel-Lo, BE
• Beau Op De Beeck · Kaggevinne, BE
• Bert Sels · Balen, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 12, 2015
• Grant date: Sep 10, 2019
• Expiry date: Nov 8, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P30/20
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The disclosure describes a one-step liquid biphasic catalytic process for converting a carbohydrate-containing feedstock, preferably lignocellulose, to light naphtha (e.g., hexane, pentane, methyl cyclopentane, cyclohexane, etc.) in the presence of an acidic reactive aqueous phase and a redox catalyst in the organic extracting/reaction phase. The process provides a cost-effective route for producing light-naphtha components, in presence or not of deoxygenates. The light naphtha components are useful as feedstock for steam and catalytic cracking to produce value-added platform molecules like ethylene and propylene, as precursor for the synthesis of bioaromatics like benzene and as gasoline fuel feedstock, and as fuel additives (e.g., the concomitantly formed oxygenates) to improve the biological origin of carbon in the fuel.