Catalytic Upgrading of Sugars to Hydrocarbons Technology Pathway

This technical report details the catalytic upgrading of sugars to hydrocarbons technology pathway, prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office. The report outlines the studies conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) on biomass conversion technologies to hydrocarbon fuels. It identifies barriers and targets research to reduce conversion costs. The report presents process designs and preliminary economic estimates developed using modeling tools, incorporating data from recent demonstrations and literature. It summarizes the preliminary technical data used for the models and highlights data gaps. The report investigates the catalytic conversion of carbohydrate streams to hydrocarbon biofuels, detailing the process design, including feedstock handling, pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and catalytic conversion. It also identifies key research needs for making the catalytic conversion pathway competitive with petroleum-derived fuels. The document serves as a foundational resource for ongoing research and development in biofuel technology.