Dataset on the ketonisation of pure propionic acid and its mixture with pyrolysis bio-oil over metal oxide catalysts into 3-pentanone a biofuel precursor.

Biomass-derived compounds and pyrolysis bio-oils would play a crucial role in meeting the globally goal towards decarbonization of the aviation industry through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The carbon number of carboxylic acids abundant in biomass pyrolysis bio-oils is mostly within C1-C3, which falls short of gasoline and aviation fuels hydrocarbon range. These carboxylic acids require C-C coupling via ketonisation and then, aldol condensation to produce elongated and branched chain precursors with similar carbon-chain to match gasoline and jet fuel (C6-C16). This dataset was obtained from solvent-free ketonisation of propionic acid, one of the abundant short-chain carboxylic acids found in biomass pyrolysis bio-oils using synthesised ZrO2, SiO2-ZrO2, and SiO2 catalysts at 300-400 °C for 0-210 min in a stirred batch reactor. The data elucidates the different side reactions such as isomerisation, alkylation, cleavage of C-C bond, and cross ketonisation resulting in isomeric, straight, and branched ketones (C4-C7) with selectivity of about 9.2%, limiting selectivity towards 3-pentanone, the propionic acid self-ketonisation product. The influence of these side reactions during the ketonisation process was shown by the data on conversion of propionic acid, selectivities, and yields of 3-pentanone and other ketones, allowing performance evaluation of the oxide catalysts. The data indicates that these side reactions are dependent on reaction temperature, reaction time, and amphoteric nature of the catalyst. The data provides support for the robustness, activeness, and selectiveness of ZrO2 in the ketonisation of short-chain carboxylic acids into fuel-range ketone precursors in the presence of 50 wt% bio-oil. The industrial concept of bio-oil upgrading via ketonisation is reinforced by the data on propionic acid plus bio-oil reactions and hydrodeoxygenation.