Single-step catalytic liquid-phase hydroconversion of DCPD into high energy density fuel exo-THDCPD

Abstract

Hydroconversion of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) into high energy density jet propellant JP-10 has been successfully achieved with a greener single-step route over supported gold catalyst. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were studied with XRD, SEM, TEM, N₂-adsorption, NH₃-TPD. The influence of reaction conditions like temperature, pressure, time etc. were studied in detail. The studies reveal that pressure and temperature play crucial roles in the reaction. Moderate acid sites in the catalysts are chiefly involved in isomerization and gold catalyzes hydrogenation of the intermediates. Analysis of the product stream at different intervals indicates a dissociation–recombination mechanism for the reaction. Reusability of the catalyst was tested by conducting five runs with the same catalyst. Even after the fifth run, the catalyst retains relatively high conversion and selectivity to exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (exo-THDCPD).