Jet Fuel Synthesis from Syngas Using Bifunctional Cobalt-Based Catalysts

Abstract

Advanced biofuels are required to facilitate the energy transition away from fossil fuels and lower the accompanied CO2 emissions. Particularly, jet fuel needs a renewable substitute, for which novel production routes and technology are needed that are more efficient and economically viable. The direct conversion of bio-syngas into fuel is one such development that could improve the efficiency of biomass for jet fuel processes. In this work, bifunctional catalysts based on hierarchical zeolites are prepared, tested and evaluated for their potential use in the production of actual jet fuel. The bifunctional catalysts Co/H-mesoZSM-5, Co/H-mesoBETA and Co/H-mesoY have been applied, and their performance is compared with their microporous zeolite-based counterparts and two conventional Fischer–Tropsch Co catalysts. Co/H-mesoZSM-5 and Co/H-mesoBETA showed great potential for the direct production of jet fuel as bifunctional catalysts. Besides the high jet fuel yields under Fischer–Tropsch synthesis conditions at, respectively, 30.4% and 41.0%, the product also contained the high branched/linear hydrocarbon ratio desired to reach jet fuel specifications. This reveals the great potential for the direct conversion of syngas into jet fuel using catalysts that can be prepared in few steps from commercially available materials.