Catalytic Transformation of Abietic Acid to Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Catalytic and thermal conversion of abietic acid was investigated in a laboratory scale high-pressure autoclave. Fractionation of crude tall oil produces rosin acids of which abietic acid is the main compound. Tall oil rosin acid, a forest product industry residue, is an abundant, inexpensive and chemically desirable feedstock for production of lighter hydrocarbons that can be used as diesel fuel additives. The carboxylic acid functionality of the main reactant, abietic acid, must first be removed, followed by double bond hydrogenation of the remaining aromatic rings. In this study, a number of catalytic and non-catalytic reaction steps in the conversion of abietic acid were investigated. The aim was to study hydrogenation and decarboxylation reactions of abietic acid in order to produce lighter hydrocarbons. The experiments were performed by using toluene as a solvent as well as with neat abietic acid, in the absence of any solvent. Hydrogenation of abietic acid to tetrahydroabietic acid in toluene was successfully performed over palladium on carbon catalyst at the temperature range of 100–200 °C and at 30 bar hydrogen pressure. Thermal non-catalytic decarboxylation of abietic acid in toluene takes place at 200–300 °C resulting in one main product. The hydrocarbon products were further hydrogenated under hydrogen pressure. Catalytic decarboxylation of abietic acid in toluene was achieved over 5 wt% Ru/C, giving a wider product distribution than thermal decarboxylation.