There is increasing interest in developing
biobased alternative
jet fuels to meet rising aviation demand and address environmental
concerns. Uncertainty of oil prices, issues of energy security, and
rising greenhouse gas concentrations have spurred the development
and acceptance of alternative, economically viable, environmentally
sustainable production pathways. The objectives of this study were
to review alternative jet fuel feedstock candidates and relevant conversion
data to provide a baseline of information to be accessed and built
upon in developing production scenarios in Hawai’i and other
tropical regions bounded by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere
and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. Seventeen
plants that produce oil, fiber, and sugar feedstocks were identified,
and information on cultural practices, yield ranges, invasiveness,
and mechanization status was assembled. Available data on pretreatment
requirements and conversion processes for the 17 feedstocks, including
mass and energy balances, product and byproduct yield and quality,
and scale requirements/unit sizes, were reviewed. This effort seeks
to inform the development and design of alternative jet fuel production
along regional supply chains in Hawai’i and other locations
in the tropics.