Fuels and fuel additives from biomass derived levulinic acid over metal non metal impregnated mesoporous catalysts

Abstract

A decision was taken at United Nations Climate Change Conference at Paris to reduce global warming to less than 2 ºC from the year 2020 onwards. Non-renewable fossil resources such as oil, natural gas, etc., which are the major fuel resources are finite and scarce. Hence the whole world now look forward for renewable resources. In recent years, to meet the ever-growing energy demand, a variety of renewable resources have been explored, studied, developed and being practiced. The abundant and low-cost biomass is the renewable resource on the earth that can be converted into liquid fuels and other value-added fine chemicals. Department of Energy, United States, has identified 12 biomass-based compounds that may replace the fossil fuel-based chemical building blocks. newlineA number of attempts have already been made in search of alternative fuels. Few technologies were already in existence for the production of bioethanol (first-generation fuel). However, these fuels are obtained from only small parts of the plants, whereas the major part of the plant is lignocellulose, which is the potential source for liquid fuel production. Among the three different biomass feedstocks (starch, triglyceride, lignocellulose feedstock), lignocellulose feedstock is the most abundant class of biomass and contributes to the structural integrity of the plants. newline