Integrated Catalytic Conversion of γ-Valerolactone to Liquid Alkenes for Transportation Fuels

Lactic Fuels In the quest to find sustainable alternatives to petrochemicals, a small cyclic ester, γ-valerolactone, derived from cellulose offers promising raw material. Bond et al. (p. 1110 ) show that carbon dioxide can be catalytically excised from the lactone efficiently at high pressure, leaving a mixture of butanes. In a second-stage reactor, the butanes can be strung together to form heavier hydrocarbons similar to those found in automotive and jet fuels. The method simultaneously yields fuel and a relatively pure stream of pressurized carbon dioxide amenable to sequestration or further chemical modification.