WO2015144993A1

WO2015144993A1 - Method for catalytic conversion of ketoacids and hydrotreatment to hydrocarbons

Info

Publication number: WO2015144993A1
Application number: PCT/FI2015/050208
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jukka Pekka MYLLOJA; Rami Piilola
Original assignee: Neste Oil Oyj
Priority date: 2014-03-26
Filing date: 2015-03-26
Publication date: 2015-10-01
Also published as: US20170073294A1; EP2924097B1; ES2762517T3; BR112016021758B1; CA2943850A1; US20170008864A1; BR112016021936A2; LT3132006T; CN106103661A; CN106211781B; CA2943850C; EP2924097A3; ES2760529T3; BR112016021936B1; CN106103661B; US10550062B2; EP3132006A4; US10538473B2; CA2943613A1; EP2924097A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to catalytic conversion of ketoacids, including methods for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids, the method comprising the steps of providing in a reactor a feedstock comprising at least one ketoacid. The feedstock is then subjected to one or more C-C-coupling reaction(s) in the presence of hydrogen, and in the presence of a catalyst system having both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity.

Description

Method for Catalytic Conversion of Ketoacids and Hydrotreament to

Hydrocarbons

Technical Field

The present invention relates to catalytic conversion of ketoacids, including methods for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids, reaction vessels suitable for such methods, C-C coupling reaction products obtainable by such methods, as well as use of such products for the production of liquid hydrocarbons and/or diesel fuel components. Background Art

Production of hydrocarbons used as fuel or heavy oil components and chemicals from biomass are of increasing interests since they are produced from a sustainable source of organic compounds.

The ketoacid Levulinic acid (LA, 4-oxopentanoic acid) is one of many platform molecules that may be derived from biomass. It may be produced from both pentoses and hexoses of lignocellulosic material (see figure 1 ) at relatively low cost. Some of the advantages and drawbacks of using levulinic acid as a platform molecule relates to the fact that it is considered to be a reactive molecule due to both its keto and acid functionality.

Esters of levulinic acid have been suggested as fuel components as well as cold flow additives in diesel fuels, and in particular the methyl and ethyl esters have been used as additives in diesel fuel. Gamma-valerolactone (GVL), which may be obtained by reduction of levulinic acid, has been used as a fuel additive in gasoline. Further reduction of GVL to 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) provides a product that may be blended with gasoline of up to 60%. Alkyl valerates produced from levulinic acid have also been suggested as biofuels. Levulinic acid has also been used for the production of liquid hydrocarbon fuels by a number of catalytic routes, including a method of producing a distribution of alkenes, the distribution centered around Ci_2l involving converting aqueous GVL in a first reactor system to butenes followed by oligomerization in a second reactor over an acidic catalyst (e.g. Amberlyst^® 70).

Serrano-Ruiz et a/. {Appl. Catal., B, 2010, 100, 184) produced a C₉-ketone (5-nonanone) by reducing levulinic acid to GVL over a Ru/C catalyst in one reactor followed by reacting 40 wt% GVL in water and 0.02 M H₂S0₄ in a Pd/Nb₂0₅ + ceria-zirconia double bed arrangement at 325-425 °C, 14 bar, WHSV = 0.8-0.5 h^" in another reactor. Using multiple reactors may be advantageous as it can offer more control over the process compared to using a single reactor. However, multiple reactors increase the number of process steps, which is not desired.

US 2006/0135793 A1 (to Blessing and Petrus) disclose dimerization of levulinic acid to a do unit in the presence of hydrogen, with a strong acidic heterogenous catalyst comprising a hydrogenating metal, at a temperature in the range from 60 to 170°C and a pressure of 1 to 200 bar (absolute). The example indicates as main products levulinic acid dimers (26 %) and unreacted levulinic acid (70 %). Using a single reactor compared to multiple reactors may be advantageous in that they reduce the number of process steps. Some of the drawbacks associated with direct routes of upgrading e.g. by using single reactors are that these reactions generate highly reactive intermediates with more than one functional group, which can further react to other (unwanted) molecules. Reduction of unwanted molecules by direct routes of upgrading in e.g. a single reactor usually entails a lower yield of the desired product composition. Accordingly, an indirect route of upgrading a feedstock using multiple reactors or multiple catalyst beds in a single reactor may in some situations be preferred compared to a direct route of upgrading. Consequently, there is a need for additional processes for upgrading levulinic acid and other ketoacids to higher molecular weight compounds, which are suitable for use as e.g. fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals or as components in the production of fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals. In particular, there is a need for such additional processes, which reduce the processing costs by i.a. improving the yield of the desired components or chemicals and/or improving the life time of the catalyst. Summary of Invention

The present invention was made in view of the prior art described above, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide methods that enable upgrading of ketoacids such as levulinic acid to higher molecular weight compounds.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the upgrade of ketoacids to higher molecular weight compounds in good yield and at low processing costs.

To solve the problem, the present invention provides a method for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids, the method comprising the steps of providing in a reactor a feedstock comprising at least one ketoacid; and subjecting the feedstock to one or more C-C-coupling reaction(s); characterised in that the C-C-coupling reaction(s) are conducted in the presence of hydrogen; and in the presence of a dual function catalyst system having both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity.

That is, the inventors of the present invention in a first aspect of the invention found that the dual function catalyst both suppresses potential coking reactions of the reaction intermediates and simultaneously catalyzes multiple types of C-C- coupling reactions enabling the production of higher molecular weight compounds at a good yield and in a reactor.

In some embodiments the C-C-coupling reaction(s) are conducted mainly in the liquid phase.

In some embodiments the C-C-coupling reaction(s) are conducted in a single reactor. In some embodiments the feedstock is introduced into the reactor in liquid phase.

In some embodiments the catalyst system is a mixture of one or more catalyst(s) having a hydrogenation activity and one or more catalyst(s) having a C C-coupling activity.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the feedstock being subjected to the one or more C-C-coupling reaction(s) has a water content of 15 wt% or less.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system comprises a metal oxide catalyst having C-C-coupling activity, and in some embodiments the metal of the metal oxide catalyst is selected from the group consisting of oxides of one or more of the following metals: Na, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ti, Y, Zr, Mo, Rh, Cd, Sn, La, Pb, Bi, Ti, V, and other rare earth metals.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system comprises a noble metal catalyst and/or a transition metal catalyst having hydrogenation activity, and in some embodiments the noble metal catalyst and/or the transition metal catalyst is selected from a group consisting of: Fe, Pd, Pt, Ni, Mo, Co, Ru, Rh, W, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system comprises Κ2Ο/ΤΊΟ2 and N1M0/AI2O3.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system contains 50 - 95 % by weight, preferably 70 - 90 % by weight of the metal oxide catalyst.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system contains 5 - 50 % by weight, preferably 10 - 30 % by weight of the noble metal catalyst and/or the transition metal catalyst.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system comprises 70 - 90 % by weight of the metal oxide catalyst and 10 - 30 % by weight of the noble metal catalyst and/or the transition metal catalyst; with the proviso that the catalyst system does not add up to more than 100 %.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the C-C coupling reaction(s) are conducted at a temperature between 200 - 500 °C, preferably between 240 - 400 °C, more preferably between 250 - 350 °C.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the C-C coupling reaction(s) are conducted at a pressure of between 5 - 100 bar, preferably between 10 - 60 bar, more preferably between 15 - 45 bar.

In some embodiments of the present invention, at least 60% of the feedstock comprises a ketoacid, and in some embodiments of the present invention, the feedstock comprises levulinic acid.

In another aspect of the present invention, a C-C-coupling reaction product obtainable by the method according to the present invention is provided.

In another aspect of the present invention, a reactor for C-C-coupling reaction(s) having a volume of more than 10 litres, comprising a catalyst system having both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity, a feedstock comprising a ketoacid is provided.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 shows a scheme illustrating conversion of lignocellulosic material to levulinic acid.

Figure 2 shows a scheme illustrating some reaction products of levulinic acid, including potential coke precursors and potential C-C-coupling precursors. The figure is not intended to cover all reaction products of levulinic acid, nor is it intended to show all types of coke precursors. Figure 2 illustrates one possible mechanism for reducing the angelica lactone coke precursors by hydrogenation, and also illustrates that the intermolecular ester of 4-hydroxypentanoic acid, GVL, may be in equilibrium with 4-hydroxypentanoic acid itself.

Figure 3 shows an overview of a possible process scheme for further upgrading the products from the C-C-coupling reactions.

Figure 4 shows an overview of a possible process scheme for preparing and upgrading the products from the C-C-coupling reactions. Detailed description of the invention

In describing the embodiments of the invention specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

One of the challenges in increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids by C-C- coupling reactions is the high reactivity product intermediates, which results in too high degree of oligomerisation of the starting components.

The inventors have found that the oligomerisation of levulinic acid in gaseous phase in the presence of a typical ketonisation catalyst results in high formation of coke and eventually plugging of the reactor. This is suggested to occur due to polymerisation reactions, including reactions of levulinic acid to more reactive precursors such as angelica lactones, which are known to have a high tendency to polymerise under typical ketonisation conditions.

It was attempted to reduce the unwanted polymerization reactions and control the ketonisation reactions and coking by addition of steam to the reactor. The addition of water to suppress coking reactions was, however, found also to decrease the performance of the ketonization catalyst resulting in low yields of the condensation products. The invention is based on the finding that the molecular weight of ketoacids can be selectively increased by subjecting the ketoacids to C-C-coupling reactions in the presence of a dual function catalyst system, which suppresses the coking tendency of the reaction intermediates and simultaneously catalyzes multiple types of C-C-coupling reactions resulting in formation of new carbon-carbon bonds between the reactants.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention is a method for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids, the method comprising the steps of providing in a reactor a feedstock comprising at least one ketoacid; and subjecting the feedstock to one or more C-C-coupling reaction(s); characterised in that the C-C-coupling reaction(s) are conducted in the presence of hydrogen; and in the presence of a catalyst system having both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids and/or derivatives of ketoacids.

Ketoacids are organic molecules that have both a keto function (>C=0) as well as a carboxylic acid (COOH) or carboxylate (COO^") function. In the present specification special forms of ketoacids include embodiments where the keto function is an aldehyde (CH=O), and in some embodiments the keto functionality may not be an aldehyde. In some embodiments, the ketoacid is an alpha-ketoacid (such as pyruvic acid, oxaloacetic acid and alpha-ketoglutaric acid), beta-ketoacid (such as acetoacetic acid), gamma-ketoacid (such as levulinic acid), or delta-ketoacid. The ketoacid may have more than one keto functionality, and more than one carboxylic acid function. In some embodiments the ketoacid only has one keto functionality and one carboxylic acid functionality.

Scheme 1 illustrates exemplary ketoacids according to the present invention, for example where n and m are integers each selected independently of each other from the list consisting of 0,1 ,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, for example in preferred embodiments where the ketoacid is levulinic acid (m=2, n=0).

In some embodiments the ketoacid derivatives, may be selected from the list consisting of: gamma-valerolactone, angelica lactones and hydroxypentanoic acid. The feedstock may comprise as the major component one or more ketoacids, for example in some embodiments at least 30 % such as at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% of the feedstock comprises a ketoacid or a derivative of a ketoacid. The feedstock may be obtained from processing of lignocellulosic material, and such processed material may be used directly, or purified to varying degrees before being used as a feedstock in the method of the present invention. In some embodiments the feedstock comprises levulinic acid, and in some embodiments the levulinic acid may be combined with one or more other ketoacids. In other embodiments the feedstock comprises a mixture of levulinic acid in combination with gamma-valerolactone, such as at least 10% of levulinic acid and at least 10% of gamma-valerolactone.

In addition to ketoacids and ketoacid derivatives, the feedstock may also contain aldehydes, such as furfural or hydroxymethylfurfural.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the feedstock comprises levulinic acid.

The feedstock may contain water, and in some embodiments the feedstock has a water content of 15 wt% or less. In some embodiments the water content is as low as possible, e.g. a water content of 10 wt% or less, such as 5 wt% or less, or 1 wt% or less, such as no water present. In some embodiments no external water is added during the C-C-coupling reaction(s), although internal water is produced in some condensation reactions. In some embodiment external water is added in an amount of 0.1wt% to 10wt% either to the feedstock and/or during the reactions, as e.g. steam. In some embodiments the feedstock is fed into in a single reactor, or single reactor bed. The reactor should be able to be pressurised, and to accommodate the feedstock and the catalyst system. The reactor should have means, such as one or more inlets and/or outlets, for supplying hydrogen and adding/withdrawing feedstock. Means for controlling the pressure and temperature should also be present.

The catalyst system may be provided as a mixture of two or more catalysts in the same bed in the reactor. In some embodiments the feedstock is introduced into the reactor in liquid phase, as opposed to for example the gaseous phase. One of the advantages of introducing the feedstock into the reactor in the liquid phase is that it is not required to heat the product to prepare a gaseous stream. In some embodiments the C-C-coupling reaction(s) are conducted predominantly in the liquid phase, as opposed to the gaseous phase, meaning that the reaction is at least predominantly taking place on the catalyst in the liquid phase. In some embodiments the C-C- coupling reaction(s) are conducted entirely in the liquid phase.

In some embodiments the molecular weight of the ketoacids in the feedstock are increased at least 100% or more. In some embodiments the molecular weight is increased to between 200 and 1500 g/mol, such as 200 and 500 g/mol. In some embodiments where the ketoacid is a C₄-C7-ketoacid, the molecular weight is increased to corresponding molecules having a C13-C50 carbon chain, such as a C13-C30 carbon chain. For example in some embodiments more than 50 wt% of the reaction product may be determined to belong to the group containing trimerisation, tetramerisation, pentamerisation, and hexamerisation products. By trimerisation, tetramerisation, pentamerisation and hexamerisation products is meant reaction products relating to three, four, five and six molecules of one or more of ketoacids and derivatives thereof being coupled together. In the case of a feedstock comprising derivatives of ketoacids in addition to ketoacids, the trimerisation, tetramerisation, pentamerisation, and hexamerisation products may additionally contain mixed C-C-coupling products comprising one or more ketoacids and/or derivatives thereof. The trimerisation, tetramerisation, pentamerisation, and hexamerisation products are derived from at least one ketoacid, such as at least two ketoacids, at least three ketoacids, at least four ketoacid, at least five ketoacids, at least six ketoacids. In the present invention the molecular weight of the keto acids are increased through one or more C-C-coupling reaction(s). Many C-C-coupling reactions are known in the art, and the skilled person would be able to identify such C-C- coupling reactions based on the reaction conditions provided. In particular the C-C-coupling reactions may be ketonisation reactions or reactions proceeding through an enol or enolate intermediate. In some embodiments C-C-coupling reactions are selected from the list comprising: aldol-type reactions and condensations, ketonisations, reactions where the C-C-coupling involves an alkene, as well as other oligomerisation reactions. The C-C-coupling reactions may proceed with two identical molecules or may be a crossed reaction between two different molecules.

The C-C coupling reaction(s) proceeds in the presence of a catalyst system. It was found that subjecting the feedstock of the present invention to C-C-coupling reactions in the presence of a dual function catalyst, will suppress the coking tendency of the reaction intermediates and will simultaneously catalyzes multiple types of C-C-coupling reactions resulting in formation of new carbon-carbon bonds between the reactants. The catalyst system should have both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity. The inventors found that the problems related to the formation of coke during the C-C-coupling reactions of ketoacids such as levulinic acid and the low yield of the condensation products can be solved by using a dual function catalyst system comprising a first part having hydrogenation activity and a second part having C-C-coupling activity. Without wanting to be being bound to any theory, it is considered that the first part having hydrogenation activity inhibits the polymerization reactions of intermediates and the second part catalyzes the C-C coupling reactions responsible for increasing the molecular weight of the ketoacid.

In some embodiments the catalyst system according to the present invention comprises at least two different catalysts, where one has predominantly hydrogenation activity, and the other predominantly C-C-coupling activity, and in other embodiments the catalyst system comprises a single catalyst having both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity. In some embodiments the catalyst system is a mixture of one or more catalyst(s) having a hydrogenation activity and one or more catalyst(s) having a C-C-coupling activity, which for example may be prepared by mixing together one or more catalyst(s) having a hydrogenation activity with one or more catalyst(s) having a C-C-coupling activity, see e.g. the materials section of the examples. Additionally the catalysts may be supported, such as for example on alumina, silica or active carbon support. Additionally, one or more of the catalysts may be sulfided. The catalysts may be prepared on a common support, or may be prepared on individual supports. While both acids and bases may catalyse a number of C-C-coupling reactions, including the aldol reaction/condensation, such catalysts may be present in the feedstock, but are not intended to be comprised in the term catalyst system, in the context of the present invention. In some embodiments the invention the catalyst system is in the solid phase.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system comprises a noble metal catalyst and/or a transition metal catalyst having hydrogenation activity, and in some embodiments the noble metal catalyst and/or the transition metal catalyst is selected from a group consisting of: Fe, Pd, Pt, Ni, Mo, Co, Ru, Rh, W, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system contains 5 - 50 % by weight, preferably 10 - 30 % by weight of the noble metal catalyst and/or the transition metal catalyst. In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system comprises a metal oxide catalyst having C-C-coupling activity, and in some embodiments the metal of the metal oxide catalyst is selected from the group consisting of oxides of one or more of the following metals: Na, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ti, Y, Zr, Mo, Rh, Cd, Sn, La, Pb, Bi, Ti, V, and other rare earth metals.

In some embodiments the metal of the metal oxide catalyst is K and/or Ti.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the catalyst system comprises K₂0/Ti0₂ and N1M0/AI2O3, such as 70 - 90 % by weight of K₂0/Ti0₂ (e.g. 80 wt%) and 10 - 30 % by weight of NiMo/AI₂0₃ (e.g. 20 wt%). The C-C coupling reaction(s) may proceed in the presence of hydrogen. The hydrogen may be mixed with one or more other gasses, preferably an inert gas such as helium or another of the noble gasses, or gas behaving inertly to the reaction conditions of the present invention. By behaving inertly is considered that the gas should not to a major extent participate as a reaction member, and preferably the inert gas should participate as little as possible, such as not participate at all. The inventors found that the C-C coupling reaction(s) can be controlled by adjusting several parameters, including selection of a suitable ratio of the catalysts in the catalyst system, and by careful selection of reaction conditions such as: temperature, hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon ration (H:HC), pressure, weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) and time.

In some embodiments the hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon ration (H:HC) is from 100 to 600 Nl/I in the C-C-coupling reactions, such as for example from 100 to 400 Nl/I, from 200 to 450 Nl/I, or from 200 to 400 Nl/I. In some embodiments the weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) is from 0.5 to 1 .5 h^~1, such as 0.8 to 1 .2 h^"1 in the C-C-coupling reactions.

In another aspect of the present invention, a C-C-coupling reaction product obtainable by the method according to the present invention is provided. This product may be used as fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals or as intermediate components in production of fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals.

In another aspect of the present invention, a pressurisable vessel for C-C-coupling reaction(s) having a volume of at least 10 litres, comprising a catalyst system, which in one or more beds has a catalyst system, which is a mixture of catalyst(s) having both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity, a feedstock comprising a ketoacid and hydrogen is provided. The C-C-coupling reaction product obtainable by the methods of the present invention may - if required - be further subjected to a hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) step to remove oxygen, which in some embodiments produce completely deoxygenated material. The produced hydrocarbons may be used as fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals or as starting components in the production of fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals. The hydrodeoxygenated products may also be further isomerized to isoparaffins in the presence of hydrogen.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that ketoacids produced from renewable materials can be upgraded to higher molecular weight compounds, which may be used as fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals or as starting components in the production of fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals.

The C-C-coupling reaction products may be fractionated to remove potential unreacted ketoacid monomers and other light components such as water and CO₂ formed in the C-C-coupling reactions from the reaction product as illustrated in Figure 3. The fractionation can be conducted by any conventional means such as distillation. The unreacted ketoacid monomer may optionally be recycled and combined with the feed of the first reactor.

Accordingly, in another aspect of the present invention involves a method for production of hydrocarbons, the method comprising subjecting the C-C-coupling reaction products obtained to a hydrodeoxygenation step in the presence of a hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) catalyst. In some embodiments the HDO catalyst comprises a hydrogenation metal on a support, such as for example a HDO catalyst selected from a group consisting of Pd, Pt, Ni, Co, or any combination of these. The hydrooxygenation step may for example be conducted at a temperature of 100-500 °C and at a pressure of 10-150 bar. In another aspect of the present invention, a kerosene product composition is provided comprising a mixture of C-C-coupling products of levulinic acid, having a boiling point range (10% and 90% fraction as determined by ASTMD2887) from 170 °C to 300 °C; a carbon and a hydrogen content (as determined by ASTMD5291 ) of more than 80 wt% and more than 10%, respectively; where an aromatic content (as determined by ASTMD6379) is between 10-20 vol%; where a sulphur content (as determined by ASTMD7039) is lower than 7 ppmw, preferably lower than 3 ppmw.

In some embodiments the kerosene product composition additionally has one or more characteristics selected from one or more of the list consisting of: a cloud point (as determined by ASTMD7689) lower than -90°C; a heat value (as determined by ASTMD3338) of more than 40 MJ/kg; a density (as determined by ENIS012185) is between 830-850 kg/m³ at 15 °C and between 805-835 kg/m³ at 50 °C; and a viscosity between 9-1 1 mm²/s at -20 °C

Water and light gases may be separated from the HDO product with any conventional means such as distillation. After the removal of water and light gases the HDO product may be fractionated to one or more fractions suitable for use as gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel or heavy oil components. The fractionation may be conducted by any conventional means, such as distillation. Optionally part of the product of the HDO step may be recycled and combined to the feed of the HDO reactor.

The product of the hydrodeoxygenation step may also be subjected to an isomerization step in the presence of an isomerization catalyst and hydrogen. Both the hydrodeoxygenation step and isomerisation step may be conducted in the same reactor. In some embodiments the isomerisation catalyst is a noble metal bifunctional catalyst, for example Pt-SAPO or Pt-ZSM-catalyst. The isomerization step may for example be conducted at a temperature of 200-400 °C and at a pressure of 20-150 bar.

It is preferred that only a part of the HDO product is subjected to an isomerization step, in particular the part of HDO product which is subjected to isomerization may be the heavy oil fraction boiling at or above temperature of 300 °C. The hydrocarbon product obtainable from the hydrodeoxygenation and/or the isomerisation step may be used as fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals or as intermediate components in production of fuel or heavy oil components or chemicals.

Generally the choice of subjecting HDO product to isomeration is highly dependable of the desired properties of the end products. Aromatic compounds are desirable if the end product is aviation fuel since the Jet fuel standard requires a certain amount of aromatic compounds to be present in aviation fuel. Since the isomerization is known to decompose aromatic and cyclized compounds, the HDO product would not necessarily be subjected to isomerization step if the object is to produce aviation fuel. On the other hand, it is advantageous to minimize the amount of aromatic compounds in diesel fuel since the aromatics decrease the cetane number of diesel.

When describing the embodiments of the present invention, the combinations and permutations of all possible embodiments have not been explicitly described. Nevertheless, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The present invention envisages all possible combinations and permutations of the described embodiments.

The terms "comprising", "comprise" and comprises herein are intended by the inventors to be optionally substitutable with the terms "consisting of, "consist of and "consists of, respectively, in every instance. Examples

The examples show that it is possible to increase the molecular weight of levulinic acid by C-C-coupling reactions conducted in the presence of hydrogen and a dual function catalyst system comprising a metal oxide catalyst and a hydrotreatment catalyst. The examples also show that the C-C-coupling reaction product of levulinic acid can be further processed to hydrocarbons having a boiling point range of typical fuel or heavy oil components such as naphta, kerosene and diesel and heavy oil components by subjecting the C-C-coupling reaction product of levulinic acid to hydrodeoxygenation reactions in the presence of a typical HDO catalyst and hydrogen.

The examples also show that the hydrocarbon products having a boiling point range of typical fuel or heavy oil components such as naphta, kerosene and diesel produced in the experiments have excellent cold properties without further isomerization treatment.

Materials

Preparation of 80/20 wt% K?0/TiO_? - NiMo/A On catalyst system

As a hydrogenation catalyst, a pre-sulfided NiMo/AI₂0₃ catalyst (obtained from

Albemarle) with the composition given in table 1 was used. As a C-C coupling catalyst, a K₂0/Ti0₂ catalyst (obtained from BASF) with the composition given in table 1 was used.

The K₂0/Ti0₂ - NiMo/AI₂0₃ catalyst system was prepared by crushing both catalysts, sieving them to a particle size of 0.15 - 0.35 mm before thoroughly mixing the two together to prepare the catalyst system. Table 1. Composition of K₂0/Ti0₂ and NiMo/AI₂0₃ catalyst

Example 1

Increasing the molecular weight of levulinic acid by C-C coupling reactions

Levulic acid with a purity of > 99.9 % was introduced in a trickle bed reactor to C-C coupling reactions in the presence of the 80/20 wt% K₂0/Ti0₂ - NiMo/AI₂0₃ catalyst system prepared above.

The C-C coupling reactions were conducted at temperature ranging from about 250 to about 350 °C and under a pressure of about 20 bar to 40 bar, using a hydrogen to hydrocarbon (H₂/HC) ratio of about 200 to 400 Nl/I and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of about 1 .0 h^" . WHSV and hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio was calculated from the amount of levulic acid fed in vessel.

The complete catalytic reaction was conducted with the same catalyst over the course of 5 weeks. Each experiment (EX 1 - 12) was performed over a period of 2-5 days.

The process conditions and yields are presented in Table 2. Oil product distributions are presented in Table 3. Oil product distribution was obtained by gel permeation chromatography using refractive index as the detector and tetrahydrofuran as eluent. A peak is present where levulinic acid eluted. Elution times after levulinic acid was ascribed to monomers, i.e. non-C-C-coupled products, which could be smaller molecular weight compounds compared to levulinic acid. For products eluting earlier than the levulinic acid, two peaks could be seen, one which could be ascribed to dimers of levulinic acid based on GC-MS, and a broader peak, which could be ascribed to oligomers derived from three or more molecules of levulinic acid. The Monomer, Levulinic acid, Dimer and Oligomer columns in table 3 are based on the area under the peaks in the GPC chromatogram. Table 2. Process conditions and process yields.

Table 3. Oil product distributions.

Oil composition Experiment

Levulic

Monomer Dimer Oligomer

acid

area-% area-% area-% area-%

12 48 30 1 1 EX 1

10 38 28 24 EX 2

5 10 16 70 EX 3

7 12 18 63 EX 4

13 17 27 43 EX 5

14 5 34 47 EX 6

6 17 21 56 EX 7

4 1 1 18 68 EX 8

3 10 16 72 EX 9

3 8 16 74 EX 10

6 9 21 65 EX 1 1

3 12 18 68 EX 12 The products obtained from experiments 1 to 12 were fractionated in a distillation apparatus. Each sample was fractionated with cut point of 200 °C. Water obtained in distillate was separated with a tap funnel. Yields from the fractional destination are presented in Table 4.

Table 4. Oil product fractions from experiments 1-12.

H₂0 <200 °C >200°C Experiment

% % %

1 1 1 88 EX 1

16 2 82 EX 2

25 2 74 EX 3

24 2 74 EX 4

17 3 79 EX 5

13 13 74 EX 6

20 8 72 EX 7

g 9 82 EX 8

10 6 84 EX 9

13 5 82 EX 10

13 6 81 EX 1 1

19 2 79 EX 12

Example 2

Hydrodeoxygenation of the C-C coupling reaction product fractions

This example uses the higher boiling fractions (>200 °C) in table 4, which were subjected to hydrodeoxygenation step to remove heteroatoms and to stabilize the oil product.

The fractionated oil product (>200 °C) from Experiment 5 of Example 1

represented a HDO oil product feed with moderate conversion (C-C-coupling reactions conducted at a temperature of 300 °C).

The fractionated oil products (>200 °C) from Experiments 1 and 2 of Example 1 were pooled to represent a HDO oil product feed with low conversion

(C-C-coupling reactions conducted at temperatures of 250-275 °C).

The fractionated oil products (>200 °C) from Experiments 7, 8 and 9 of Example 1 were pooled to represent a HDO oil product feed with moderately high conversion (C-C coupling reactions conducted at a temperature of 325 °C).

The fractionated oil products (>200 °C) from Experiments 6, 10 and 1 1 of

Example 1 were pooled to represent a HDO oil product feed with high conversion (C-C coupling reactions conducted at a temperature of 350 °C).

These four oil product fractions described above were subjected to

hydrodeoxygenating reactions (HDO) to remove heteroatoms and to stabilize oil product. Hydrodeoxygenation was carried out in presence sulfided NiMo on alumina carrier catalyst at temperature of 310 °C and under a pressure of 50 bar using hydrogen to hydrocarbon (H₂/HC) ratio of 3000 Nl/I and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 0.3 h^"1. WHSV and hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio is calculated from the amount of tested oil fed in vessel. Process conditions and process yields are presented in Table 5, and the HDO oil product distribution is presented in Table 6. The HDO oil product boiling point distribution was obtained by GC- distillation (AST D 2887). Table 5. HDO process conditions and process yields.

Table 6. HDO Oil product boiling point distribution.

Bp: <180 °C Bp: 180-360°C Bp: >360°C Experiment

22 % 53 % 25 % EX 13

27 % 48 % 25 % EX 14

13 % 51 % 36 % EX 15

13 % 44 % 44 % EX 16

Example 3

Physical properties of hydrodeoxygenated C-C coupling reaction products

The HDO oil product of Experiment 13 of Example 2 was distilled in reduced pressure to fuel and heavy oil fractions, and some of the properties measured. Properties of the distilled fractions are shown in Table 7. The properties of the kerosene product in table 7 makes it suitable for a use as a Jet fuel.

Table 7. Properties of distilled HDO product fractions of Experiment 13.

Claims

A method for increasing the molecular weight of ketoacids, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing in a reactor a feedstock comprising at least one ketoacid; and b) subjecting the feedstock to one or more C-C-coupling reaction(s);

characterised in that the C-C-coupling reaction(s) are conducted in the presence of hydrogen; and in the presence of a catalyst system having both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity; at a temperature between 200 - 500 °C and at a pressure of between 5 - 150 bar.

The method according to claim 1 , wherein the feedstock is introduced into the reactor in liquid phase.

The method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the C-C-coupling reaction(s) are conducted in a single reactor.

The method according to any one of claims 1 -3, wherein the catalyst system is a mixture of one or more catalyst(s) having a hydrogenation activity and one or more catalyst(s) having a C-C-coupling activity.

The method according to any one of claims 1 -4, wherein the feedstock being subjected to the one or more C-C-coupling reaction(s) has a water content of 15 wt% or less.

The method according to any one of claims 1 -5, wherein the catalyst system comprises a metal oxide catalyst having C-C-coupling activity, and wherein the metal of the metal oxide catalyst is selected from the group consisting of oxides of one or more of the following metals: Na, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ti, Y, Zr, Mo, Rh, Cd, Sn, La, Pb, Bi, Ti, V, and other rare earth metals.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 -6, wherein the catalyst system comprises a noble metal catalyst and/or a transition metal catalyst having hydrogenation activity and wherein the noble metal catalyst and/or the transition metal catalyst is selected from a group consisting of: Fe, Pd, Pt, Ni, Mo, Co, Ru, Rh, W, or combinations thereof.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 -7, wherein the catalyst system comprises K₂0/Ti0₂ and NiMo/AI₂0₃.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 -8, wherein the C-C coupling reaction(s) are conducted at a temperature between 240 - 400 °C, preferably between 250 - 350 °C.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 -9, wherein the C-C coupling reaction(s) are conducted at a pressure of between 10 - 60 bar, preferably between 15 - 45 bar.

1 1 . The method according to any one of claims 1 -10, wherein the feedstock comprises levulinic acid.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 -1 1 , wherein at least 60 wt-% of the feedstock comprises a ketoacid.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 -12, wherein the C-C coupling reaction(s) are conducted at a hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon ratio from 100 to 600 Nl/I.

14. A C-C-coupling reaction product obtainable by the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. A pressurised reactor for C-C-coupling reaction(s) having a volume of more than 10 litres, comprising a catalyst system having both hydrogenation activity and C-C-coupling activity, a feedstock comprising a ketoacid, and hydrogen, wherein the catalyst system comprises K₂0/Ti0₂ and NiMo/AI₂0₃.

16. A Kerosene product composition comprising a mixture of C-C-coupling products of levulinic acid, having a boiling point range (10% and 90% fraction as determined by ASTMD2887) from 170 °C to 300 °C; a carbon and a hydrogen content (as determined by ASTMD5291 ) of more than 80 wt% and more than 10%, respectively; where an aromatic content (as determined by ASTMD6379) are between 10-20 vol%; wherein a sulphur content (as determined by ASTMD7039) is lower than 7 ppmw, preferably lower than 3 ppmw; wherein a cloud point (as determined by ASTMD7689) is lower than - 90°C; with a heat value (as determined by ASTMD3338) of more than 40 MJ/kg; having a density (as determined by ENIS012185) between 830-850 kg/m³ at 15 °C; and a viscosity between 9-1 1 mm²/s at -20 °C.