Synthesis of low pour point bio-aviation fuel from renewable abietic acid

Abstract

Abietic acid is one of the main compositions of rosin and tall oil, it has a tricyclic molecular structure, which could be further modified into a branched saturated bicyclic substance with the process of hydro-creaking treatment. Branched decalin and its derivatives are main creaking products from abietic acid, which are promising aviation fuel components since they owe high density, good thermal stability, and low freezing point. In this work, two routes for the target aviation fuel production with abietic acid as raw material were investigated, and their reaction conditions were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, target aviation fuel with a yield of 45.8% saturated bicyclic products was obtained through the route of hydrogenation-cracking process. Meanwhile, a yield of 42.2% was obtained with the route of cracking-hydrogenation process. The branched saturated bicyclic compounds obtained from both processes had excellent fuel properties. Especially, the pour point of the fuel was below −75 °C, which makes the product could be potentially used as bio-aviation fuel in special areas, or as additive to improve low temperature performance of conventional bio-jet fuels. The investigation of this paper provided an efficient and green way for the bio-refinery of rosin or tall oil.