Production of Fuel from Chemicals Derived from Biomass
Hydrocarbons may be formed from six carbon sugars. This process involves obtaining a quantity of a hexose sugar. The hexose sugar may be derived from biomass. The hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal levulinate, an alkali metal valerate, an alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or an alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate. An anolyte is then prepared for use in a electrolytic cell. The anolyte contains the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate. The anolyte is then decarboxylated. This decarboxylating operates to decarboxylate the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate to form radicals, wherein the radicals react to form a hydrocarbon fuel compound.
1 . A method of forming a hydrocarbon fuel compound comprising:
obtaining a quantity of a hexose sugar;
reacting the hexose sugar to form an alkali metal levulinate, an alkali metal valerate, an alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or an alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate;
preparing an anolyte comprising the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate; and
decarboxylating the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate to form radicals, wherein the radicals react to form a hydrocarbon fuel compound.
2 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fuel compound is a gasoline additive.
3 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal valerate, wherein the decarboxlation of the alkali metal valerate produces radicals that react to form octane.
4 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal levulinate, wherein the decarboxlation of the alkali metal levulinate produces radicals that react to form 2,7-octadione.
5 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, wherein the decarboxlation of the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate produces radicals that react to form 1,8-hydroxy octane.
6 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate, wherein the decarboxlation of the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate produces radicals that react to form 1,8-dialkoxy octane.
7 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decarboxylation occurs in an electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anolyte compartment that houses the anolyte, a catholyte compartment that houses a catholyte, and an alkali ion conducting membrane that separates the anolyte compartment from the catholyte compartment.
8 . A method as in claim 7 , wherein the alkali ion conducting membrane is a NaSICON membrane.
9 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
obtaining a quantity of biomass;
converting the biomass into a carbohydrate; and
converting the carbohydrate into the hexose sugar.