Conversion of biomass derived valerolactone into high octane number gasoline with an ionic liquid

Abstract

Conversion of biomass into gasoline of high octane number is challenging. In this study, conversion of biomass-derived γ-valerolactone into gasoline was achieved by decarboxylation of valerolactone to produce butenes and alkylation of the produced butenes with butane using [CF₃CH₂OH₂][CF₃CH₂OBF₃] as an efficient catalyst. The obtained gasoline was rich in trimethylpentane with a high research octane number of 95.4.