Chapter 5 - Aviation Biofuels Through Lipid Hydroprocessing

Abstract

Hydroprocessing routes to producing alternative aviation fuels have become a well-established technology, though not yet cost-competitive due to the higher cost of animal- and plant-derived triglycerides/lipids. This chapter describes academic and technological advances for the processing of lipids obtained from various sources via hydroprocessing routes to produce biofuels. The effect of different catalytic systems, operating parameters, reaction pathways, and kinetics involved in the hydroprocessing of lipids is also described. Among different catalysts reported and discussed, the sulfided mesoporous catalysts with moderate acidity and higher surface area are similar to currently used hydrocracking catalysts, and are easier to retrofit in the current refinery infrastructure for large-scale production, even under co-processing conditions. In addition to reaction chemistry and conditions, this chapter also discusses technical challenges, such as the high exothermicity observed during the reaction, pretreatment strategies for increased catalyst life, recycled gas purification issues, and regular feedstock availability, etc., that must be overcome for commercialization of this process for production of aviation biofuels.