Direct synthesis of jet fuel range alkanes with lignocellulosic ketones and/or alcohols over a single non-noble metal catalyst

A highly integrated strategy was developed for the direct synthesis of sustainable aviation fuels with lignocellulosic ketones and/or alcohols over a single non-noble metal NiCa/ZrP catalyst prepared by the impregnation method. C–C coupling and hydrodeoxygenation are two important reactions in the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) with lignocellulose derived oxygenates. However, it is challenging to integrate them into a one-step process because the necessity of oxygen containing functional groups in the C–C coupling reactions. Herein, jet fuel range polycycloalkanes and branched alkanes were directly synthesized by a cascade self-aldol condensation/hydrodeoxygenation reaction of lignocellulosic ketones over a zirconium phosphate loaded calcium modified nickel catalyst (NiCa/ZrP) that was prepared by a simple incipient impregnation method. Compared with the catalyst systems that have been reported in literature, the NiCa/ZrP catalyst have many advantages such as fewer step, easier operation and preparation, lower equipment investment and cost, wider applicability, etc . Moreover, the NiCa/ZrP is also applicable for the direct production of jet fuel range alkanes with lignocellulosic ketones and/or alcohols by a cascade dehydrogenation/aldol condensation/hydrodeoxygenation reaction. This work gives a new idea about the reduction of energy consumption and cost by catalyst designing in the manufacture of SAFs from lignocellulose.