Production of High-Density Renewable Aviation Fuel from Arid Land Crop

Abstract

Grindelia squarrosa biocrude is a promising feedstock for producing high-density cycloalkane fuels for high-performance aircraft due to the branched tricyclic nature of its primary diterpenoid component, grindelic acid. Herein we designed a novel biphasic tandem catalytic process (biTCP) for the conversion of Grindelia squarrosa biocrude into high-density aviation fuels with a superior carbon atom efficiency. The systematic experimental studies provided valuable insights into the effects of process conditions. The detailed speciation was carried out with the complementary chemical analysis techniques. Under the optimum conditions, a ∼90% carbon yield of aviation fuel components was produced from the Grindelia squarrosa biocrude. Multistep tandem reactions, including cyclic ether ring opening, dehydration, hydrogenation, and decarboxylation were carried out in the “one-pot” biTCP. The detailed catalytic reaction mechanism is discussed. A continuous process was designed integrating the extraction of biocrude and its conversion to dense jet fuels using biTCP. The techno-economic analysis has been performed, and in its current state, the proposed process is expected to deliver price-competitive high-density aviation fuel products.