Selectively Converting Biomass to Jet Fuel in Large‐scale Apparatus

Abstract

Jet fuel is not easy to synthesize by the biomass‐to‐liquid (BTL) process owing to the limitation of the Anderson–Schulz–Flory (ASF) hydrocarbon distribution law in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) with biomass‐derived syngas (CO+H2). Here, we realized an anti‐ASF distribution to selectively produce jet fuel from biomass on a large scale by addition of small amounts of 1‐olefin, a FTS product, into syngas, enhancing jet fuel selectivity in hydrocarbons up to 64 % and that in oil product to as high as 91 %. The Co/SiO2 catalyst (300 g) was loaded into a flow‐type three‐phase reactor and 120 h continuous operation was conducted by using the real‐time on‐line biomass‐derived syngas from an entrained bed gasifier of biomass (240 kg day−1) of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The production rate of liquid oil reached 720 g kgcat−1 h−1. The structure of the fresh and used catalyst was characterized in detail, accompanied with lab‐scale data on reaction performance and catalyst properties. The stable technology process from biomass gasification to FTS, stable catalyst structure, and novel design of 1‐olefin addition are the key to success in selectively converting biomass to jet fuel on a large scale.

Hollow Structure and Electron Promotion Effect of Mesoporous Pd/CeO2 Catalyst for Enhanced Catalytic Hydrogenation

“…Noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively applied in many fields of catalysis owing to their high catalytic activity, especially catalytic hydrogenation . It is well known that noble metal NPs with high surface energy tend to aggregate to form large nanoparticles during catalytic reaction, thereby leading to loss of catalytic activity.…”

Beyond Cars: Fischer‐Tropsch Synthesis for Non‐Automotive Applications

“…Our co‐workers realize an anti‐ASF distribution to selectively produce jet fuel from biomass on a large scale by addition of small amounts of 1‐olefin, enhancing the selectivity of jet fuel in hydrocarbons up to 64 % and that in oil product to as high as 91 %. The production rate of jet fuel oil can reach more than 700 g ⋅ kg cat −1 ⋅ h −1 with a biomass consumption of 240 kg ⋅ d −1 , much higher than that in lab scale …”

“…Jet fuel, composed by hydrocarbons with a carbon number range from 8 to 16, is employed for driving gas‐turbine engines in aircraft. It offers the propulsive energy for flight, and primary coolant for aircraft and engine subsystems ,. Nowadays, jet fuel accounts for ca .…”

“…In a slurry‐phase reaction process, employing of 1‐olefins as additives can boost the selectivity of jet fuel to more than 65 %, much higher than that of normal F‐T result. Furthermore, this process is scaled up to a demonstration level . Our co‐workers realize an anti‐ASF distribution to selectively produce jet fuel from biomass on a large scale by addition of small amounts of 1‐olefin, enhancing the selectivity of jet fuel in hydrocarbons up to 64 % and that in oil product to as high as 91 %.…”

“…In addition to conventional oil product for automotive fuels from F‐T synthesis, the recent years have witnessed new advances in F‐T synthesis with non‐automotive fuels as desired product (Figure ). On one hand, our co‐workers proposed a series of jet fuel (C 8 −C 16 ) synthesis route with high selectivity, extending the F‐T application in airline industry . On the other hand, various high‐value chemicals can now be directly synthesized, such as lower olefins, aromatics, alcohols by rational design of catalysts.…”