Patent ID: 7880049

Claim:
A method for making a composition comprising alkanes, the method comprising: (a) dehydrating a feedstock solution comprising a carbohydrate, in the presence of an acid catalyst, to yield at least one furan derivative compound, in a reaction vessel containing a biphasic reaction medium comprising an aqueous reaction solution and a substantially immiscible organic extraction solution, wherein the aqueous reaction solution, the organic extraction solution, or both the aqueous reaction solution and the organic extraction solution contain at least one modifier to improve selectivity of the dehydration to yield the furan derivative compound; then (b) subjecting the furan derivative compound of step (a) to at least one self-aldol condensation reaction or a crossed-aldol condensation reaction in an aqueous monophasic or an aqueous/organic biphasic reaction medium with another carbonyl compound to yield a beta-hydroxy carbonyl compound and/or an alpha-beta unsaturated carbonyl compound; then (c) hydrogenating the beta-hydroxy carbonyl and/or alpha-beta unsaturated compounds of step (a) to yield a saturated or partially saturated compound; and then (d) hydrodeoxygenating the saturated or partially saturated compound of step (c) to yield a C 6 to C 15 alkane.