Abstract: A method for converting vanillin to bis(cyanate) ester monomers, comprising treating vanillin with a reductive coupling agent to form at least one olefin. The olefin or olefins are treated with hydrogen and a metal catalyst to hydrogenate said olefin. The hydrogenated olefin or olefins are treated with at least one cyanogen halide and a base in an organic solvent to afford at least one olefin monomer. The olefin monomer or monomers are purified by recrystallization or precipitation from an organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for making high density fuels having the potential to increase the range and/or loiter time of Navy platforms. Derivation of these fuels from a sustainable source will decrease the carbon footprint of the Department of Defense (DoD) and reduce reliance on nonsustainable petroleum sources. Fuels based on longifolene have volumetric net heats of combustion up to 17% higher than conventional Navy jet fuel (JP-5). Moreover, longifolene can be generated from sustainable biomass sugars via fermentation.

Abstract: A series of renewable bisphenols has been synthesized from creosol (2-methoxy-4-methylphenol) through stoichiometric condensation with short chain aldehydes. Creosol can be readily produced from lignin, potentially allowing for the large scale synthesis of bisphenol A replacements from abundant waste biomass. The renewable bisphenols were isolated in good yield and purity without resorting to solvent intense purification methods. Zinc acetate was shown to be selective catalyst for ortho-coupling of formaldehyde but was unreactive with more sterically demanding aldehydes. Dilute HCl and HBr solutions were shown to be effective catalysts for the selective coupling of aldehydes in the position meta to the phenol. Acid solutions could be recycled and used multiple times without decreases in activity or yield.

Abstract: A process for making high density fuels having the potential to increase the range and/or loiter time of Navy platforms. Derivation of these fuels from a sustainable source will decrease the carbon footprint of the Department of Defense (DoD) and reduce reliance on nonsustainable petroleum sources. Fuels based on barbatene and thujopsene have volumetric energy densities comparable to JP-10 and can be produced from biomass sugars.

Abstract: A process for making high density fuels having the potential to increase the range and/or loiter time of Navy platforms. Derivation of these fuels from a sustainable source will decrease the carbon footprint of the Department of Defense (DoD) and reduce reliance on nonsustainable petroleum sources. Fuels based on santalenes have volumetric energy densities greater than JP-5 and F-76 and can be produced from biomass sugars.

Abstract: This invention describes resins with phosphate cores and a simple, three-step process for their synthesis. Preferred resins are cyanate ester resins with bridging phosphate groups. These resins can be cured to produce thermoset polymers having Tgs of between 131 and >360° C. depending on the number of cyanate ester groups per phosphate and the substitution pattern of the aromatic rings. The high char yields of these resins, up to about 67%, coupled with the phosphate core means that these materials will have applications as fire-resistant polymers. Additionally, these materials can potentially be blended with conventional cyanate esters or other compatible thermosetting resins to improve the fire resistance of composite materials. Other applications may include use in fire-resistant circuit boards, or as surface coatings to reduce flammability of conventional composite materials or thermoplastics.

Abstract: High density renewable diesel and jet fuels have been generated by blending multicyclic sesquiterpanes with a synthetic paraffinic kerosene (5-methylundecane). The sesquiterpanes impart high density and volumetric net heat of combustion to the blends, while inclusion of the modestly branched paraffin decreases the viscosity and increases the cetane number of the blends. A surrogate diesel fuel including 65% sesquiterpanes and 35% 5-methylundecane had a cetane number of 45.7, a density of 0.853 g/ml, and a volumetric net heat of combustion (NHOC) of 133,593 btu/gal. By increasing the amount of paraffin to 60% by volume, a jet fuel surrogate was prepared with a cetane number of 57.0, a density of 0.806 g/ml, a ?20° C. viscosity of 7.9 est, and a NHOC of 124,257 btu/gal. The results show that full-performance and even ultra-performance fuels can be generated by combining bio-derived sesquiterpanes and paraffins.

Abstract: A method for converting cedarwood oil into high density fuels including, hydrogenating cedarwood oil in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to generate hydrogenated cedarwood oil, removing the hydrogenation catalyst from the hydrogenated cedarwood oil, purifying the hydrogenated cedarwood oil to produce a first high density fuel, isomerizing the first high density fuel in the presence of at least one acid catalyst to generate a hydrocarbon mixture including adamantanes, and distilling the adamantane mixture to produce a second alkyl-adamantane high density fuel.

Abstract: A process for making high density fuels having the potential to increase the range and/or loiter time of Navy platforms. Derivation of these fuels from a sustainable source will decrease the carbon footprint of the Department of Defense (DoD) and reduce reliance on nonsustainable petroleum sources. Fuels derived from bisabolene can have volumetric net heats of combustion comparable to JP-10 and can be produced from biomass sugars.

Abstract: A method for making high density fuels including, providing pure cyclic hydrocarbons or a mixture of cyclic hydrocarbons, subjecting the cyclic hydrocarbons or mixture of cyclic hydrocarbons to electrochemical cycloaddition in the presence of at least one catalyst to generate multicyclic oligomers, and purifying the multicyclic oligomer to yield a high density fuel.

Abstract: The invention describes a high yield process that utilizes selective catalysts for the conversion of abundant, naturally occurring terpenes into bisphenols, and their derivative bis(cyanate)esters, resins, and polymers. High performance, low-cost composite materials with low moisture uptake and high glass transition temperatures suitable for aerospace applications can be prepared from these renewable starting materials.

Abstract: A fuel and method for conversion of sesquiterpenes to high density fuels. The sesquiterpenes can be either extracted from plants or specifically produced by bioengineered organisms from waste biomass. This approach allows for the synthesis of high performance renewable fuels.

Abstract: A method to generate cyclic hydrocarbons from farnesene to increase both the density and net heat of combustion of the product fuels.

Abstract: A method to generate cyclic hydrocarbons from farnesene to increase both the density and net heat of combustion of the product fuels.

Abstract: A method to generate cyclic hydrocarbons from farnesene to increase both the density and net heat of combustion of the product fuels.

Abstract: An efficient, low-temperature process to convert well-defined olefin oligomers, particularly butene oligomers to branched chain alcohols suitable for use as precursors to plasticizers commonly used in industry, and more specifically, the olefin feedstocks can be conveniently and renewably produced from short chain alcohols.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for the selective reaction of terpenes (including mono-, sesqui-, di-terpenes, and others in the terpene family), alpha-olefin oligomers (OOA's), and related olefins to their respective dimeric product in high purity using heterogeneous acid catalyst concurrent with full utilization of energy created in the process. Embodiments of the invention carry out a unique and highly efficient dimerization of terpenes, alpha-olefin oligomers (OOA's), and olefins using cost effective catalysts and low cost equipment that are ideally suited for commercialization of jet/turbine and diesel biofuel processes producing fuels with high flashpoints and superb cold flow properties.

Abstract: A method to generate dense, multi-cyclic diamondoid fuels from bio-derived sesquiterpenes. This process can be conducted with both heterogeneous and homogenous catalysts and produces the targeted isomers in high yield. The resulting multi-cyclic structures impart significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature/high altitude. Moreover, bio-derived sesquiterpenes can be produced from renewable biomass sources. Use of these fuels will decrease Navy dependence on fossil fuels and will also reduce net carbon emissions.

Abstract: A method for producing high density fuels from isoprene which can be produced via biosynthetic routes using biomass sugars as feedstock. This allows for the production of isoprene and isoprene-derived fuels from abundant waste materials with the potential to significantly reduce DoD carbon emissions. Embodiments of the invention describe a method for conversion of isoprene to full performance jet and diesel fuels. Isoprene can be selectively oligomerized to generate a distribution of branched chain hydrocarbons. Combination of an oligomerization catalyst with a metathesis catalyst allows for the synthesis of high density cyclic fuels with performance advantages (increased density and volumetric net heat of combustion) over conventional petroleum-based fuels.

Abstract: A three step method for the conversion of ethanol into fuels that can be utilized as full-performance military jet or diesel fuels. Embodiments of the invention further describe methods for the selective conversion of ethanol to full performance saturated hydrocarbon fuels that are suitable for both jet and diesel propulsion.