Enhancement of jet fuel range alkanes from co-feeding of lignocellulosic biomass with plastics via tandem catalytic conversions

Abstract

Enhanced carbon yields of jet fuel range alkanes were manufactured from co-feeding of lignocellulosic biomass with plastics. The consecutive processes proceeded via the co-feed catalytic microwave-induced pyrolysis and hydrogenation process. In the co-feed catalytic microwave pyrolysis by using ZSM-5 as the catalyst, parent ZSM-5 fabricated by hydrothermal and calcined treatments contributed to the increase of surface area as well as the formation of more mesopores. Liquid organics with enhanced carbon yield (40.54%) were more principally lumped in the jet fuel range from the co-feed catalytic microwave pyrolysis performed at the catalytic temperature of 375°C with the plastics to biomass ratio of 0.75. To manufacture home-made Raney Ni catalyst, the BET surface area, pore surface area, and pore volume of the home-made Raney Ni catalyst were considerably improved when the Ni–Al alloy was dissolved by the NaOH solution. In the hydrogenation process, we observed the three species of raw organic derived from the co-feed catalytic microwave pyrolysis were almost completely converted into saturated hydrocarbons under a low-severity condition. The improved carbon yield (38.51%) of hydrogenated organics regarding co-reactants of biomass and plastics predominantly match jet fuels. In the hydrogenated organics, over 90% selectivity toward alkanes with the carbon number in the jet fuel range was attained. In this respect, these hydrogenated organics with high amounts of renewable cycloalkanes can be potentially served as high-density jet fuels or additives for blending with civilian jet fuels.