Conversion of polyester-containing feedstocks into hydrocarbon products
Provided herein are methods of processing polyester-containing feedstocks to provide hydrocarbon products. Exemplary feedstocks include those containing estolide compounds, which may be processed under thermal and/or catalytic conditions to provide at least one hydrocarbon product.
1. A method comprising:
providing a feedstock comprising at least one estolide compound; and converting the at least one estolide compound into at least one hydrocarbon product, wherein the at least one estolide compound is selected from compounds of the following formula:
wherein
x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20;
y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20;
n is an integer selected from 0 to 20;
R 1 is an optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and
R 2 is selected from hydrogen and an optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched;
wherein each fatty acid chain residue of said at least one estolide compound is independently optionally substituted.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein converting the at least one estolide compound comprises deoxygenating the at least one estolide compound.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the deoxygenating comprises decarboxylation.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the deoxygenating comprises thermal decarboxylation.
5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the deoxygenating comprises decarbonylation.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the deoxygenating comprises hydrodeoxygenation.
7. The method according to claim 2 , wherein converting the at least one estolide compound is conducted in the presence of water.
8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein converting the at least one estolide compound is conducted in the presence of hydrogen.
9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein converting the at least one estolide compound comprises contacting said at least one estolide compound with at least one catalyst.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one catalyst comprises a transition metal.
11. The method according claim 2 , wherein converting the at least one estolide compound is conducted at a temperature of at least 100° C.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein converting the at least one estolide compound is conducted at a temperature of about 200° C. to about 500° C.
13. The method according to claim 2 , wherein converting the at least one estolide compound is conducted at a pressure greater than 1 atm absolute.
14. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one hydrocarbon product comprises a C 10 to C 20 hydrocarbon.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one hydrocarbon product comprises a C 17 hydrocarbon and/or a C 18 hydrocarbon.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrocarbon product undergoes further processing to provide at least one second hydrocarbon product.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the further processing comprises cracking, hydrogenation and/or isomerization.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one second hydrocarbon product comprises a branched or unbranched C 4 to C 10 hydrocarbon.
19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the feedstock further comprises at least one additional component.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one additional component comprises one or more of a Group I base oil, a Group II base oil, a Group III base oil, and a polyalphaolefin.