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US 9,656,932 B2Granted
Preparation of pentanol with ethanol derived from fermentation
AssigneePioneer Energy, Inc.
InventorsJohn T. Henri, Jan Zygmunt, Mark Berggren, 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.
Claims10
A method for preparing 3-pentanol as a fuel or chemical comprising:
- a) carbonylating ethanol to form propanoic acid;
- b) ketonizing the propanoic acid to form 3-pentanone;
- and
- c) hydrogenating the 3-pentanone using a transition metal catalyst at a pressure of 10 to 1600 psi to form 3-pentanol in a continuous flow process, wherein the 3-pentanol is at least 65 wt % of a total products formed.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.