Reforming of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) to High-Quality Oil with Acidic Phosphates

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) derived from renewable biological feedstocks is regarded as a potential material for high-quality oil production through weak acid catalysis. PHB can be converted to PHB oil in a single-step reaction catalyzed by aluminum dihydrogen phosphate, and the yield can reach 36.9 wt % at mild reaction conditions (240 degrees C for 6 h). The hydrogen/carbon ratio and higher heating value of the oil obtained are 1.63 and 42.3 MJ/kg, respectively, which makes it comparable to that of oxygenated commercial gasoline.