Abstract: Process for the preparation of camphene by the rearrangement of .alpha.-pineneA process for the preparation of camphene by the rearrangement of .alpha.-pinene in the presence of a titanium oxide hydrate catalyst under the action of heat, wherein .alpha.-pinene is refluxed until the content of .alpha.-pinene in the reaction mixture is still at least 3% by weight, and the rearrangement is then brought to completion in a secondary reaction at a temperature below 160.degree. C.By carrying out the process in this way--refluxing to a relatively high residual content of .alpha.-pinene and performing a secondary reaction at a lower temperature--the formation of polymeric by-products is reduced. This process moreover increases the yield of camphene in that recycled tricyclene, concentrated in the distillation of the crude product, is partially rearranged to camphene or the formation of more tricyclene is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for providing fuels from biomass such as seed oils or plant fruits. Generally the process utilizes a metal catalyzed conversion to step to provide fuel mixtures with compositions that may be varied depending on conditions of temperature, pressure and time of reaction. Mixtures of hydrocarbons produced from limonene feedstocks include alicyclic, alkyl and aromatic species. Monocyclic aromatic compounds may be obtained in high yields depending on the reaction conditions employed.