Single-reactor process for producing liquid-phase organic compounds from biomass

A method for preparing liquid fuel and chemical intermediates from biomass-derived oxygenated hydrocarbons, the method comprising:

• reacting in a single reactor an aqueous solution of a biomass-derived, water-soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon reactant, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au, at a temperature, and a pressure, and for a time sufficient to yield a self-separating, three-phase product stream comprising a vapor phase, an organic phase comprising linear or cyclic mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons, and an aqueous phase;
• and then
• hydrogenating the organic phase, wherein ketones present in the organic phase are reduced to alcohols;
• and then
• dehydrating the alcohols to yield alkenes.

A method for preparing liquid fuel and chemical intermediates from biomass-derived oxygenated hydrocarbons, the method comprising:

• reacting in a single reactor an aqueous solution of a biomass-derived, water-soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon reactant, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au, at a temperature, and a pressure, and for a time sufficient to yield a self-separating, three-phase product stream comprising a vapor phase, an organic phase comprising linear or cyclic mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons, and an aqueous phase;
• and then
• hydrogenating the organic phase, wherein ketones present in the organic phase are reduced to alcohols;
• and then converting the organic phase to aromatic compounds.