Synthesis of C15 and C10 fuel precursors with cyclopentanone and furfural derived from hemicellulose?

RSC Advances Pub Date: 2017-03-16 DOI: 10.1039/C7RA02396K

Abstract

Fuel precursors 2,5-bis(2-furylmethylidene)cyclopentanone (F2Cp) and 2-(2-furylmethylidene)cyclopentanone (FCp) were obtained through aldol condensation of cyclopentanone and furfural over solid acid catalysts under solvent-free conditions. Nafion exhibited the best performance among the investigated catalysts (Nafion, Amberlyst-15, Amberlyst-36, H-USY, ZSM-5, H-β, and SiO2/Al2O3). Under optimized conditions, yields of F2Cp and FCp were 37.48% and 23.77%, respectively. Selectivities of F2Cp and FCp were 50.74% and 32.18%, respectively. Nafion showed good stability and did not deactivate during 4 runs. Meanwhile, a certain amount of humin was also generated during the reaction. The reaction mechanism for the aldol condensation of cyclopentanone and furfural and the formation mechanism of humin were also proposed.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of C15 and C10 fuel precursors with cyclopentanone and furfural derived from hemicellulose
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