Biofeedstocks Promise Lower-Cost p-Xylene

摘要

RESEARCHERS AT the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Amherst, Mass., have discovered an "ultrase-lective" process to make p-xylene from dimethylfuran (DMF) and ethylene derived from renewable resources such as lignocellulose. The route boasts more than 99% xylene selectivity to the para isomer, and 90% yield of p-xylene at 99% conversion of DMF. Developed at the university's Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI), the process involves combined cycloaddition/dehydration reactions using zeolite beta catalyst.