(641b) A Method for Rapid Screening of Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Biomass Intermediates

The focus of biofuels development is shifting from alcohol fuels to advanced biofuels that would be drop-in replacements for petroleum-derived hydrocarbons. There is a wide range of intermediates that can be produced from biomass by chemical or biological routes, but virtually all require further deoxygenation before they can be used as fuel components. Potential routes for decreasing the oxygen content of biomass components include dehydration, hydrodeoxygenation and decarboxylation (possibly after controlled oxidation). Deoxygenation by HDO is preferred over dehydration and decarboxylation reactions, as it is likely to result in higher yields through conservation of carbon, retention of hydrogen, and the production of more energy dense products.  Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is a hydrogenolysis process that removes oxygen by converting it to water, however, HDO is often performed at high temperatures and pressures that significantly increase the cost of the transformation. We need to develop HDO catalysts that more efficiently convert biomass-derived components into fuel products that are compatible with the existing fuel distribution infrastructure. The feedstocks for the chemical transformations can include sugars, lignins, bio-oils, and chemicals obtained by biological transformations of sugars and biomass. It is clear from previous research that in order to design commercially viable catalysts for HDO upgrading of biomass-derived intermediates, the catalyst system must (1) exhibit high activity under mild conditions (<200°C), (2) contain low-cost materials, (3) demonstrate high stability in an aqueous environment, and (4) have high selectivity for the desired products.  To accomplish this, a microwave heated (to 250^oC), pressurizable (to 250 psi), automated reaction system has been assembled to rapidly screen catalyst systems using model compounds.  To allow automated operation, hydrogen is provided in-situ from a hydrogen donor material, such as formic acid, i-propanol or decalin. The rapid screening not only allows the rapid testing of catalysts, but also of reaction conditions, including temperature, reaction time, solvent, and hydrogen donor.  The results from tests with model compounds such as acetovanillone and hydroxymethyl furfural, representing typical lignin and carbohydrate derived intermediates, with heterogeneous catalysts, will be described.