• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2016

Biomass derived jet fuel is proven as a potential alternative for the currently used fossil oriented energy. The efficient production of jet fuel precursor with special molecular structure is prerequisite in producing biomass derived jet fuel. We synthesized a new jet fuel precursor containing branched $C_{15}$ framework by aldol condensation of furfural (FA) and ethyl levulinate (EL), where the latter of two could be easily produced from lignocellulose by acid catalyzed processes. The highest yield of 56% for target jet fuel precursor could be obtained at the optimal reaction condition (molar ratio of FA/EL of 2, 323 K, 50 min) by using KOH as catalyst. The chemical structure of $C_{15}$ precursor was specified as (3E, 5E)-6-(furan-2-yl)-3-(furan-2-ylmethylene)-4-oxohex-5-enoic acid ($F_2E$). For stabilization, this yellowish solid precursor was hydrogenated at low temperature to obtain C=C bonds saturated product, and the chemical structure was proposed as 4-oxo-6-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-3-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-methyl hexanoic acid ($H-F_2E$). The successful synthesis of the new jet fuel precursors showed the significance that branched jet fuel could be potentially produced from biomass derived FA and EL via fewer steps.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2014

Petroleum a vital commodity affecting every aspect of 21st century. Toxicity and adverse effects of sulphur as catalyst in petroleum products is of great concern required development of techniques for desulphurization in compliance with the International standards. Installation of desulphurizing units costs over $200 million per unit placing economic burden on developing countries like Pakistan. Present study analysis of commercial fuels (station petrol and jet fuel JP8) on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified sulphur concentration of 19.94 mg/L and 21.75 mg/L, respectively. This scenario urged the researcher to attempt synthesis of material that is likely to offer good adsorption capacity for sulphur. Following protocol of sol-gel method, transition metals (Ni, Cu, Zn) solution is gelated with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS; silica precursor) using glycerol. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra revealed bonding of Zn-O, Cu-O, and Ni-O by stretching vibrations at $468cm^{-1}$, $617cm^{-1}$, and $468cm^{-1}$, respectively. Thiophene and Benzothiophene mixed in n-heptane and benzene (4:1) for preparation of Model Fuels I and II, respectively. Each of silica based metal was applied as adsorbent in batch mode to assess the removal efficiency. Results demonstrated optimal desulphurization of more than 90% following efficacy order as Si-Ni > Si-Zn > Si-Cu based adsorbents. Proposed multilayered (Freundlich) adsorption mechanism follows ${\pi}$-complexation with pseudo secnd order kinetics.