Synthesis of furan derivatives as an alternative to fuels using carbon based heterogeneous catalyst

Abstract

newline ABSTRACT newlineThe growing energy demand of the future generation and reduction of unending depletion of newlinenon- renewable petroleum sources, high variations in the crude oil price and global warming newlinedue to increased carbon dioxide emissions have directed current research efforts towards the newlinedevelopment of renewable alternatives. Therefore, development of new synthetic routes and newlinerelated technologies for generating fuels from bio-renewable resources is an innovative newlineresearch area. In this regard, we carried out the reaction of hydrodeoxygenation of a biomassbased newlineprecursor furfural as a starting material for the synthesis of methyl furan, a potential fuel newlinecandidate using carbon-based catalyst. Out of other available non precious metal-based newlinecatalysts, the catalysts containing carbon material through their acidic support are being used newlineto achieve the high degree of deoxygenation due to their excellent stability, low cost and high newlineelectrical conductivity. The properties such as high rate of vaporization and combustion newlinestabilities, more effectiveness to cold engine starts and superior knock suppression ability newlinemake methyl furan an eligible bio-fuel candidate. The catalyst synthesis was characterized by newlineusing techniques of SEM, EDS, TEM, XPS, XRD and FTIR whereas the reaction mixture was newlineanalyzed by employing gas chromatography using FID and MS detectors. The reduction of newlinecarbonyl group in furfural was obtained, but the product was not selectively methyl furan newlineinstead a reaction mixture comprising of furfuryl alcohol, furan 2-(2- ethoxy-1-methoxyethyl) newlinewas detected. newlineKeywords: Fuel, hydrodeoxygenation, synthesis, furfural, methyl furan