OXYGENATE SYNTHESIS FROM AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS

ETHER OXYGENATES THAT WILL BE IN HIGH DEMAND FOR ADDITION TO REFORMULATED GASOLINE CAN BE PREPARED FROM AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OR BYPRODUCTS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WORK PROPOSED HERE IS TO EVALUATE NEW CATALYSTS FOR THE CONVERSION OF BIOMASS PRECURSORS OF OLEFINS WITH A BRANCHED STRUCTURE THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR PREPARATION OF TERTIARY ETHERS, SUCH AS MTBE AND TAME. THE CATALYSTS ARE EXPECTED TO REMOVE OXYGEN FROM THE BIOMASS PRECURSORS, AS WELL AS REFORM THE STRUCTURES TO THE DESIRED BRANCHED ISOMERS WITH MINIMAL CONVERSION OF THE BIOMASS PRECURSOR TO AROMATICS. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A CONCEPT FOR AN ECONOMICAL PROCESS TO PRODUCE THESE IMPORTANT FUEL COMPONENTS FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES. FEED MATERIALS FOR THE PROCESS INCLUDE STARCH, HEMICELLULOSE, AND CELLULOSES COMPONENTS, AND THUS A WIDE VARIETY OF AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY PRODUCTS AND WASTE PRODUCTS CAN BE UTILZED.