Synthesis of Diesel and Jet Fuel Range Alkanes with Furfural and Angelica Lactone

A route was developed for the synthesis of diesel and jet fuel range C 9 and C 10 alkanes with furfural and angelica lactone, which can be obtained from hemicellulose and cellulose. It was found that angelica lactone is more reactive than levulinic acid or its other derivates in the aldol condensation with furfural. Among the investigated catalysts, Mn 2 O 3 was found to be the most active and was very stable for the aldol condensation of furfural and angelica lactone. Over Mn 2 O 3, a high carbon yield of C 10 oxygenates (about 96%) can be achieved by the aldol condensation of furfural and angelica lactone under mild conditions (353 K, 4 h). By the hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation of the aldol condensation product over the Pd/C and Pd-FeO x /SiO 2 catalysts, high carbon yields (∼96%) of C 9 and C 10 alkanes were obtained.