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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

A process is disclosed for opening naphthenic rings of naphthenic ring-containing compounds. Naphthene ring opening is achieved using a self-supported mixed metal sulfide catalyst comprising nickel sulfide, molybdenum sulfide, tungsten sulfide and an organic complexing agent. The catalyst is characterized as having a composition of metal components, in terms of molar ratios; as follows: 0.25Ni/(Ni+Mo+W)0.80; 0<Mo/(Ni+Mo+W)0.25; 0.12W/(Ni+Mo+W)0.50; and 1.5W/Mo3.0.