Cycloalkane-rich sustainable aviation fuel production via hydrotreating lignocellulosic biomass-derived catalytic fast pyrolysis oils

Chen, Xiaolin; Orton, Kellene A.; Mukarakate, Calvin; Gaston, Katherine; Fioroni, Gina M.; McCormick, Robert L.; Griffin, Michael B.; Iisa, Kristiina

doi:10.1039/d4se01151a

Cycloalkane-rich sustainable aviation fuel production via hydrotreating lignocellulosic biomass-derived catalytic fast pyrolysis oils

Journal Article · Fri Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Sustainable Energy & Fuels

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/d4se01151a· OSTI ID:2475477

^[1]; Orton, Kellene A. ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; Fioroni, Gina M. ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from lignocellulosic biomass is emerging as an ideal alternative to conventional jet fuel for aviation sector decarbonization. Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) can convert lignocellulosic biomass into relatively stable bio-oil that can be selectively transformed to various transportation fuels through hydroprocessing under conditions of different severities. In this contribution, two CFP oils produced from pine-based feedstocks over different types of catalysts (i.e., ZSM-5 and Pt/TiO₂ catalysts) were hydrotreated at 125 bar in a non-isothermal process with a maximum temperature of 385 °C over a sulfided NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst to produce SAF with high cycloalkane concentrations of 89–92 wt%. Cycloalkanes are an important component of jet fuel with advantageous fuel properties, such as high energy density, low sooting, and potential for replacing aromatic hydrocarbons to provide good seal swelling properties. The hydrotreating process successfully converted 91–92% of the biogenic carbon in the CFP oil intermediates to liquid-phase hydrotreated products. Through distillation, 39–40 wt% of the hydrotreated oils were collected in the jet-fuel range as SAF fractions. The rest of the hydrotreated product could be valorized as fuels (e.g., diesel) or chemicals. The SAF fractions with oxygen contents below the detection limit (<0.01 wt%) met ASTM D7566 finished fuel blend and D4054 Tier 1 specifications with respect to density, lower heating value (LHV), volatility, flash point, and freeze point. These results indicate hydrotreating lignocellulosic biomass-derived CFP oil as a promising pathway to produce high-quality SAF rich in cycloalkanes. Continued research is required to increase the SAF yield by process improvements, such as increased CFP oil yields, and an enhanced production of SAF-range molecules via e.g., cracking of high-molecular weight compounds either during CFP or hydrotreating, as well as evaluation of a broader range of jet fuel properties and performance requirements.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2475477

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5100-91024; MainId:92802; UUID:4018a883-d0cd-482d-9113-6ff50102bf57; MainAdminId:74074

Journal Information:: Sustainable Energy & Fuels, Journal Name: Sustainable Energy & Fuels Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 8; ISSN 2398-4902

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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