Converting biomass to gaseous fuel hydrocarbons
A method for producing a C 1-5 hydrocarbon from a solution containing a C 2-6 carboxylic acid or a C 2-6 carboxylate which is derived from biomass by contacting the solution with a solid catalyst to decarboxylate the C 2-6 carboxylic acid or the C 2-6 carboxylate, thereby forming a C 1-5 hydrocarbon.
1. A method of decarboxylating a C 2-6 carboxylic acid or a C 2-6 carboxylate, the method comprising:
providing a solution containing a C 2-6 carboxylic acid or a C 2-6 carboxylate that is derived from biomass; and
contacting the solution with a solid catalyst to form a C 1-5 hydrocarbon.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step is performed at 200° C.-500° C. and at 1-30 atm.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step is performed at 200-400° C. and at 1 atm.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the solution is carried by a gas to effect contact with the solid catalyst.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the gas is hydrogen, an inert gas, or a mixture thereof.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the solid catalyst includes a metal and a substrate.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the metal is Co, Cu, Pt, Pd, Sn, Re, Au, or a combination thereof.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the metal is Au.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the solution is carried by a gas to effect contact with the solid catalyst.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the gas is hydrogen, an inert gas, or a mixture thereof.
12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the substrate is a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal nitride, a metal carbide, a zeolite, a molecular sieve, a perovskite, a clay, or a combination thereof.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the substrate is a carbonaceous material.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the carbonaceous material is activated carbon, carbon black, graphite, charcoal, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, or a combination thereof.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the carbonaceous material includes carbon nanotubes.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, Au, or a combination thereof.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass is a plant or a photosynthetic organism or a part thereof.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass is a carbohydrate.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the solution is carried by a gas to effect contact with the solid catalyst and the contacting step is performed at 200° C.-500° C. and at 1-30 atm.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the solid catalyst includes a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, and Au.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution is an aqueous solution.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the solution is carried by a gas to effect contact with the solid catalyst and the contacting step is performed at 200° C.-500° C. and at 1-30 atm.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the solid catalyst includes a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Sn, Cu, Ag, and Au.