Synthesis of high caloric fuels and chemicals
AssigneePioneer Energy, Inc.
InventorsJohn Henri, Jan Zygmunt, Mark Bergren, Robert Zubrin
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Abstract
In one embodiment, the present application discloses methods to selectively synthesize higher alcohols and hydrocarbons useful as fuels and industrial chemicals from syngas and biomass. Ketene and ketonization chemistry along with hydrogenation reactions are used to synthesize fuels and chemicals. In another embodiment, ketene used to form fuels and chemicals may be manufactured from acetic acid which in turn can be synthesized from synthesis gas which is produced from coal, biomass, natural gas, etc.
Claims29
A method for the preparation of an alkyl compound or a mixture of alkyl compounds, the method comprising:
- a) preparing a compound of the formula I:
- where:
- R1 is H or C1-6 alkyl;
- and
- R2 is H or C1-6 alkyl;
- b) reacting the compound of the formula I to form a self-addition product;
- and
- c) hydrogenating the self-addition product in the presence of a metal catalyst to form the alkyl compound or mixtures of alkyl compounds.
A method for the preparation of an alkyl compound or mixture of alkyl compounds, comprising:
- a) preparing a compound of the formula I:
- where:
- R1 is H;
- and
- R2 is H;
- b) reacting the compound of the formula I to form a diketene self-addition product;
- c) reacting the diketene self-addition product with a C1-6 alcohol to form an acetoacetate ester;
- and
- d) the acetoacetate ester is hydrogenated to from 1-butanol, 2-butanol or a mixture thereof.
A method for the preparation of an alkyl compound or mixture of alkyl compounds, comprising:
- a) preparing a ketene of the formula I:
- where:
- R1 is H;
- and
- R2 is H;
- b) dimerizing the ketene to diketene;
- c) dimerizing the diketene to dehydroacetic acid;
- and
- d) hydrogenating the dehydroacetic acid to the alkyl compound or mixture of alkyl compounds.
A method for preparing an alkyl compound or mixture of alkyl compounds, comprising:
- a) preparing ketene;
- b) dimerizing the ketene to diketene;
- c) hydrogenating the diketene to butyric acid;
- d) ketonizing the butyric acid to heptanone;
- and
- e) hydrogenating the heptanone to the alkyl compound or a mixture of alkyl compounds.
A method for preparing a hydrocarbon product comprising:
- a) preparing ketene;
- b) dimerizing the ketene to diketene;
- c) hydrogenating the diketene to butyric acid;
- d) ketonizing the butyric acid to 4-heptanone;
- e) hydrogenating the 4-heptanone to 4-heptanol;
- f) dehydrating the 4-heptanol to 3-heptene;
- and
- g) hydrogenating the 3-heptene to the hydrocarbon product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.