Synthesis of jet-fuel precursors from renewable biomass through aldol condensation of cyclopentanone and furfural on base catalysts

Abstract

Furfural condensation with cyclopentanone has been studied over calcium oxide as a catalyst exploring the influence of temperature, cyclopentanone to furfural ratio, furfural purity, and the effect of a stabilizer. This research delves into the synthesis of aviation fuels from renewable biomass through aldol condensation, focusing on the reaction kinetics. The comprehensive study assesses the previously mentioned factors to optimize the conditions for maximum yield and selectivity towards the desired product. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed significant changes in the catalyst structure after the reaction, influencing its efficiency. The preferred conditions were determined to be the furfural to catalyst mass ratio of 10:1, cyclopentanone to furfural molar ratio of 15:1, stirring speed above 800 rpm and temperature of 130 °C, resulting in high catalytic activity. Furthermore, it was found that addition of a stabilizer enhanced the reaction rate and selectivity towards the desired products, which could be due to changes in the acidity of the reaction media. This study lays the groundwork for further exploration into the production of sustainable jet fuels from the aldol condensation of smaller biomass-derived compounds, highlighting the importance of the reaction conditions to achieve high conversion, product yield and selectivity.