High-Throughput Screening of Catalytic Materials for JP-8 Fuel Cracking to Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Abstract

ABSTRACTA high-throughput methodology is applied for the discovery and optimization of novel catalyst formulations to convert readily available hydrocarbon-based JP-8 fuel directly into a lighter hydrocarbon product suitable for portable power applications utilizing LPG-powered fuel cells. In addition to catalytic cracking challenges, JP-8 cracking poses other challenges including high sulfur content (up to 3,000 ppmw) and significant concentration of aromatics, which are precursors to coking. An existing 16-channel high-throughput reactor system was modified for the JP-8 catalytic cracking studies. The catalyst support material was of primary importance in determining cracking activity. Alumina-based catalytic materials demonstrate the greatest activity for conversion of JP-8 to LPG during catalytic cracking at reactor temperatures above 600°C. This is attributed to the importance of acidic reaction sites within the structure of the catalytic support. The addition of noble metals to the alumina-based materials does not yield significant improvements in JP-8 conversion.