Production of Fuel from Chemicals Derived from Biomass

Abstract

Hydrocarbons may be formed from six carbon sugars. This process involves obtaining a quantity of a hexose sugar. The hexose sugar may be derived from biomass. The hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal levulinate, an alkali metal valerate, an alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or an alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate. An anolyte is then prepared for use in a electrolytic cell. The anolyte contains the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate. The anolyte is then decarboxylated. This decarboxylating operates to decarboxylate the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate to form radicals, wherein the radicals react to form a hydrocarbon fuel compound.

1 . A method of forming a hydrocarbon fuel compound comprising:
 obtaining a quantity of a hexose sugar;   reacting the hexose sugar to form an alkali metal levulinate, an alkali metal valerate, an alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or an alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate;   preparing an anolyte comprising the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate; and   decarboxylating the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate to form radicals, wherein the radicals react to form a hydrocarbon fuel compound.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel compound is a gasoline additive. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal valerate, wherein the decarboxlation of the alkali metal valerate produces radicals that react to form octane. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal levulinate, wherein the decarboxlation of the alkali metal levulinate produces radicals that react to form 2,7-octadione. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, wherein the decarboxlation of the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate produces radicals that react to form 1,8-hydroxy octane. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate, wherein the decarboxlation of the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate produces radicals that react to form 1,8-dialkoxy octane. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the decarboxylation occurs in an electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anolyte compartment that houses the anolyte, a catholyte compartment that houses a catholyte, and an alkali ion conducting membrane that separates the anolyte compartment from the catholyte compartment. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein the alkali ion conducting membrane is a NaSICON membrane. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a quantity of biomass;   converting the biomass into a carbohydrate; and   converting the carbohydrate into the hexose sugar.