Catalysts for conversion of 2,3-butanediol-containing fermentation mixture to hydrocarbons

Abstract

A method for producing one or more hydrocarbon compounds from at least one of 2,3-butanediol, acetoin, and ethanol, the method comprising contacting said at least one of 2,3-butanediol, acetoin, and ethanol with a catalyst at a temperature of at least 100° C. and up to 500° C. to result in said 2,3-butanediol, acetoin, and/or ethanol being converted to said one or more hydrocarbon compounds, wherein said catalyst is either: (i) a catalyst comprising nanoparticles composed of (a) a first metal oxide selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, titanium oxide, and lanthanum oxide, and (b) a main group metal oxide; or (ii) a catalyst comprising a zeolite loaded with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium in an amount of 1-30 wt % by weight of the zeolite.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.