Catalytic Biorefining of Natural Oils to Basic Olefinic Building Blocks of Proven Chemical Valorization Schemes

Abstract

Catalytic transformation of renewable plant oils including microalgae and waste oil into industrially relevant α-olefins in the C₃ to C₁₀ regime is demonstrated. The biorefinery concept is comprised of a catalytic sequence of ethenolysis, double bond isomerization, and a subsequent ethenolysis, thereby cutting and rearranging the fatty acid chains into valuable chemical building blocks. A benign extraction and reaction solvent, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂ ), is utilized.

Keywords: Biorefinery; Catalysis; Homogeneous Catalysis; Renewable Resources; Sustainable Chemistry.