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Single-step Process for Production of Branched, Cyclic and Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Fatty Acids (14010 & 14044)

Detailed Technology Description

None

*Abstract

    

     

Features and Benefits

• Novel and simplified process for producing commercially relevant for producing commercially relevant hydrocarbons from fatty acids.
• Multifunctional catalyst promotes efficiency by enabling conversion of lipid biomass material in a single reactor.
• Further conversion of reactants following decarboxylation offers a broad array of commercial products, e.g.,renewable or "green" diesel, lubricants, petrochemical intermediates.

*This technology is available for licensing, further development, or industrial partnering

      

Technology

    

University of Louisville researchers have developed a novelprocess for converting fatty acids into branched, cyclic and aromatichydrocarbons.  More specifically, theprocess has been shown to catalyze decarboxylation and further conversions ofoleic acid to paraffins, branched and aromatic hydrocarbons.  The reactions are catalyzed by platinumsupported on small pore zeolites and hydrotalcite.

During the process, an increase in reaction temperatureyields increased decarboxylation and selectivity to heptadecane anddodecylbenzene among the products when using Pt-SAPO-34 as the catalyst.  Side products yielded by the process includebranched isomers, paraffins, alkenes, and carboxylic acids such as nonanoicacid and decanoic.

The process provided by this invention enables a simplifiedand scalable method to produce a number of useful hydrocarbons fortransportation fuel, lubricants and important intermediaries from anenvironmentally friendly, renewable resource.

     

Markets Addressed

    

Hydrocarbons are broadly used organic compounds that are commonly formulated as fuel for combustion, particularly in transportation fuel applications. Most hydrocarbons are obtained from processing and refining fossil fuels. The problem with fossil fuels as a sole or predominant source of hydrocarbons is that their supply is limited and unsustainable. Interest in the production of alternative fuel sources is on the rise globally due to a growing desire to steadily reduce CO2 emissions and dependency on nonrenewable fossil fuels.

     

Technology Status 

Patent Applications Pending:

InternationalPat. App. No. PCT/US2014/056288 (Pub. No. WO 2015/042253 A1), U.S. Pat. App.No. 14/489,852, “Single-step process for production of branched, cyclic,aromatic, and cracked hydrocarbons from fatty acids”

InternationalPat. App. No. PCT/US2015/018625 (Pub. No. WO 2015/134570 A1), U.S. Pat. App.No. 14/637,843 (Pub. No. US 2015/0252270 A1), “Single-step catalytic processfor production of branched, cyclic, aromatic and cracked hydrocarbons fromfatty acids”

Publications:

M.Ahmadi, et al., “Decarboxylation andfurther transformation of oleic acid over bifunctional, Pt/SAPO-11 catalyst andPt/chloride Al₂O₃ catalysts,” Journal of MolecularCatalysis A: Chemical 386 (2014), 14-19.

M. Ahmadi, et al., “Decarboxylationof oleic acid over Pt catalysts supported on small-pore zeolites andhydrotalcite,” Catalysis Science & Technology, 2015, 5, 380.

Country/Region

USA