Phosphated Oxide Catalyst for Reductive Etherification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catalysts for reductive etherification of biomass-derived alcohols and ketones have limited thermal stability and industrial applicability, hindering the production of high cetane, low sooting blendstocks for diesel fuel.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a phosphated oxide with a specific ratio of Brønsted to Lewis acid sites and total acidity, combined with a transition metal particle, is used to catalyze the reaction between alcohols and ketones in the presence of hydrogen, forming ethers with improved thermal stability and industrial applicability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If binary physical mixtures of metal hydrogenation and acidic acetalization catalysts are used, then the catalyst can facilitate reductive etherification, but the catalyst has limited thermal stability and industrial applicability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines metal hydrogenation catalysts and acidic acetalization catalysts into a single integrated catalyst structure with metal particles dispersed on an acidic support material, eliminating the need for separate binary physical mixtures and improving thermal stability through strong metal-support interactions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite catalyst structures consisting of metal particles (such as Pd, Pt, Ru) supported on acidic materials (such as sulfonated carbon, polymeric resins, or metal oxides), creating a composite material that simultaneously provides hydrogenation and acetalization functionality with enhanced thermal stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If improved catalysts with better thermal stability are developed, then industrial applicability increases, but catalyst complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary preparation of the acidic support material (such as sulfonating carbon materials or preparing polymeric resin supports) before introducing metal particles, allowing for optimized metal dispersion and simplified manufacturing processes while achieving high thermal stability and industrial applicability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses acidic support materials as intermediary structures that facilitate the integration of metal particles with the catalyst system, providing a stable framework that simplifies manufacturing while enabling improved thermal stability and industrial applicability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the production of ethers with desirable fuel properties, such as high cetane numbers and low sooting tendencies, while maintaining low water solubility and oxidation stability, making them suitable as advanced diesel blendstocks.
Implementation Method 1
A composition comprising a phosphated oxide with a specific ratio of Brønsted to Lewis acid sites and total acidity, combined with a transition metal particle, is used to catalyze the reaction between alcohols and ketones in the presence of hydrogen, forming ethers
Implementation Method 2
reacting in the presence of a solid catalyst, diatomic hydrogen gas with a mixture comprising an alcohol and a ketone, where the reacting results in the forming of an ether
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a composition that includes a first oxide having a phosphate, a ratio of Brønsted acid sites to Lewis acid sites between 0.05 and 1.00, and a total acidity between 50 μmol/g and 300 μmol/g, where the phosphate is at least one of a functional group covalently bonded to the first oxide and/or an anion ionically bonded to the first oxide.