High-Quality Jet Fuel Blend Production by Oxygen-Containing Terpenoids Hydroprocessing

Abstract

Biojet fuel production has attracted a lot of research interest due to the double threats of fuel shortage and environmental concerns. This paper works on the high-quality jet fuel blend production by oxygen-containing terpenoids hydroprocessing. Hydroprocessing of three typical oxygen-containing terpenoids (geranyl acetone, nerolidol, and geraniol) over Pt/Al2O3 was first studied. The results indicate that the coexistence of branched carbon backbone, carbon–carbon double bond, and oxygen-containing functional group makes the terpenoids highly reactive during the hydroprocessing. The Pt/Al2O3 catalyst, which is considered to have a mild acidity, is still too active in terpenoids hydrogenation and results in large heat release and extensive side reactions. Hence, Pt supported on a support with a milder acidity and better diffusion property was proposed to build a suitable terpenoids hydroprocessing catalyst. Pt/Al-MCFs (MCF: mesocellular silica foam) were then successfully prepared, characterized, and test...