Abstract: An eugenol, an abundant natural phenol and the primary component of clove oil, which is converted to a thermoset resin via a high yield, two-step reaction. Modest heating yields a thermoset material with thermal stability above 350° C., a glass transition temperature of 187° C. and water uptake of only 1.8%.

Abstract: Acyclic monterpene alcohols, like linalool, to be converted through a series of highly efficient catalytic reactions a biogasoline blending component, and a drop-in biodiesel fuel.

Abstract: A vanillin is found to be a useful starting material for preparing new monomers that can be further applied to make high Tg composite resins that are in turn useful for making composite parts.

Abstract: A highly efficient method for the conversion of a natural product into the high density fuel RJ-4 with concomitant evolution of isobutylene for conversion to fuels and polymers, more specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to efficient methods for the conversion of the renewable, linear terpene alcohol, linalool into a drop-in, high density fuel suitable for ramjet or missile propulsion.

Abstract: A method for making high density fuels including, heating a renewable plant oil, triglyceride, or fatty acid with at least one first acid catalyst to generate a first mixture of alkyladamantanes, increasing reaction time or adding at least one second catalysts to a first mixture of alkyladamantanes to produce a second alkyladamantane mixture, separating methyl, ethyl, propyl, and/or butyl adamantanes from a second alkyladamantane mixture to produce a third adamantane mixture to produce fuels.

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 catalyst to generate a hydrocarbon mixture including adamantanes, and distilling the adamantane mixture to produce a second alkyl-adamantane high density fuel.

Abstract: A method for making hydrogenated cyclooctatetraene dimers including cyclo-dimerizing butadiene to form 1,5-cyclooctadiene in the presence of at least one first catalyst, dehydrogenating 1,5-cyclooctadiene to 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene, dimerizing 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene to a C16 multicyclic hydrocarbon cyclooctatetraene dimer, and hydrogenating multicyclic hydrocarbon cyclooctatetraene dimer to form hydrogenated cyclooctatetraene dimers.

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: An eugenol, an abundant natural phenol and the primary component of clove oil, which is converted to a thermoset resin via a high yield, two-step reaction. Modest heating yields a thermoset material with thermal stability above 350° C., a glass transition temperature of 187° C. and water uptake of only 1.8%.

Abstract: A method for making high density fuels including, heating a renewable plant oil, triglyceride, or fatty acid with at least one first acid catalyst to generate a first mixture of alkyladamantanes, increasing reaction time or adding at least one second catalysts to a first mixture of alkyladamantanes to produce a second alkyladamantane mixture, separating methyl, ethyl, propyl, and/or butyl adamantanes from a second alkyladamantane mixture to produce a third adamantane mixture to produce fuels.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing cyclic hydrocarbons with linear hydrocarbon side chains from a renewable source, or biomass by naturally occurring or bioengineered fungal strains, or hydrodistillation of plants.

Abstract: A renewable biofuel based on a highly efficient batch catalysis methodology for conversion of 1-butene to a new class of potential jet fuel blends. By tuning the catalyst and then using the dimer produced, the carbon use is about 95% or greater. This latter point will be particularly important in the future, where the source of raw materials (i.e., biomass/biofeedstock) is limited.

Abstract: A method for the efficient synthesis of useful deoxygenated terpenoids from an abundant renewable source, using catalytic conversion of oxygenated terpenoids. Oxygenated terpenoids such as 1,4-cineole and 1,8-cineole are, for example, major components of turpentine and essential oils. These oxygenated terpenoids can also be produced from sugars via a biosynthetic approach. Catalytic deoxygenation of these substrates can be used to efficiently generate commercially important chemicals and high density fuels for turbine or diesel propulsion.

Abstract: A material that can be used either as a standalone or coating additive that would both repel water and resist corrosion would greatly benefit the Navy. A method of making hydrophobic polymer, including combining a perylene derived monomer with a bisphenol derived monomer to produce a polymer mixture, and condensing said polymer mixture to produce a hydrophobic polymer.

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 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 process for making high density fuels, pure terpene dimers, and byproducts from mixed terpene feedstocks and the resulting high density fuel products. The fuels produced by the process includes, dimerizing at least one terpene feedstock by mixing at least one terpene with at least one heterogeneous acidic catalyst and at least one solvent used to control the reaction temperature for a desired time and temperature to produce a crude terpene dimer (C20H32 mixture) in about 65% to about 95% chemical yield, hydrogenating the crude terpene dimer (C20H32 mixture) with at least one hydrogenation catalyst under a hydrogen atmosphere and removing the hydrogenating catalyst(s) to produce about 65% by weight to about 95% by weight of hydrogenated terpene dimer mixture, and utilizing a separation method against the hydrogenated terpene dimer mixture to produce byproducts, where the process generates a hydrocarbon mixture with a viscosity of between about 20 and 50 cSt at 40° C.

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: 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 for the selective synthesis of bisphenols, thermosetting resins, and thermoplastics from salicylic acid, the major component of wintergreen oil, and a viable target for engineered biosynthesis. Condensation of salicylic acid, structural analogs of salicylic acid, and derivatives of salicylic acid with short chain aldehydes or ketones and subsequent decarboxylation has the potential to produce bisphenols that are direct replacements for conventional resins, while the steric and electronic effects of salicylic acid improve the efficiency and selectivity of the conversion process. The utilization of renewable polyphenols as precursors to epoxies, poly carbonates, and high temperature thermosets including cyanate esters, provides an opportunity to develop full-performance resins while reducing the use of petroleum based feedstocks. This approach will then diminish the overall environmental impact of resin production while allowing for a sustainable source of phenols.