Direct thermochemical conversion of residual biomass into sustainable aviation fuels using activated biochar catalyst

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is needed to decarbonize the aviation industry, as traditional jet fuel is a fossil fuel contributing to climate change. Catalysts are essential for producing SAF from renewable feedstocks and making the conversion process more efficient and cost-effective which is crucial for making SAF a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Fossil-based activated carbon (F-AC) has all the required features to be used as catalyst in hydrotreatment reactions to produce SAF. Compared to other common hydrotreatment catalysts, like silica or alumina, AC provides greater surface area to have higher reaction rate and lower cost per cubic meter. Replacing F-AC with bio-based activated biochar (B-AC) in SAF production reduces the reliance on fossil resources. This project aims to benefit from B-AC and use it as catalyst in SAF production via direct conversion of biomass in the robust process of atmospheric catalytic hydropyrolysis (CHP).

Foto: Harry Knight, Unsplash