Strategies for the Conversion of Biomass-Derived Carbohydrates and Fatty Acids to Fuels and Lubricants

Biomass represents a renewable source of carbon that can be used to produce fuels and lubricants in a sustainable manner. We have recently shown that C5 and C6 sugars derived from lignocellulosic biomass and fatty acids derived from a variety of plant oils can be used to produce alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones of different molecular weights. These synthons can be used in various combinations to produce oxygen-containing compounds and hydrocarbons that are suitable for addition as octane boosters for gasoline, cetane enhancers for diesel, and high-quality lubricants. We have found that a wide variety of compounds can be produced using a limited set of catalysts. This talk will illustrate how this portfolio of catalysts and synthons can be used to produce desired compounds with a minimum consumption of hydrogen. For several of the applications presented, life-cycle analyses have been carried out to show that the proposed approach is expected to result in lower GHG emissions.