High-pressure catalytic conversion of light alcohols to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs)

• Grant number: 24/13857-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Liane Marcia Rossi
• Grantee: Sergio Damasceno
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP)
• Associated research grant: 20/15230-5 - Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation - RCG2I, AP.PCPE

Abstract

The aviation sector faces significant challenges in transitioning to electrified propulsion systems to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Consequently, the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) is crucial for mitigating CO2 emissions. The alcohols-to-jet route presents a promising avenue for producing higher hydrocarbons from methanol and ethanol, which are potential feedstocks for aromatics production. Aromatics are essential components in SAFs, providing crucial energy density and lubrication properties. Methanol serves as a critical chemical intermediate in industry, with mature production processes that address the requirements for carbon capture and utilization (CCU) by utilizing CO2 as a feedstock. The University of São Paulo (USP) has secured a patent for methanol production from CO2 hydrogenation and is currently advancing a pilot plant for scale-up. Brazil, as the second-largest global producer of ethanol, holds significant potential to emerge as a major SAFs producer. Both the methanol-to-aromatics (MTA) and ethanol-to-aromatics (ETA) routes involve homologous reactions, which face challenges such as selectivity, stability, and catalytic efficiency necessary for economic viability. The MTA route, having undergone more extensive investigation, offers theoretical insights that can inform the less-referenced ETA process. Therefore, this research project aims to investigate optimal reaction conditions, including temperature, space velocity, and co-feeding with gases (steam and CO2), under atmospheric pressure, high-pressure, and supercritical conditions. The objective is to enhance the efficiency of aromatics production through sustainable pathways, contributing to advancements in SAFs production.