Review of Sustainable Jet Fuel Production through Pyrolysis of Waste Tires: Process, The Physicochemical Properties and Catalyst

Solid waste, including waste tires, contributes significantly to global environmental pollution, with approximately one billion used tires generated annually. The use of waste tires as a source of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has the advantage of not competing with food sources, thus supporting energy needs without sacrificing food security. However, the production of jet fuel from waste tire pyrolysis oil faces major challenges to meet stringent American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) quality standards. This article reviews the physicochemical properties of waste tire pyrolysis oil, including viscosity, density, and sulfur content, and compares them with ASTM jet fuel specifications. A bibliometric analysis is carried out on the development of fuel research from waste tires being converted to jet fuel by collecting the number of papers and documents, the number of citations, and the countries that produce the most papers related to waste tires and their research. The development of catalysts for jet fuel production in the cracking process was also discussed in detail. The use of waste tire pyrolysis oil in jet engines was also reviewed as an initial step towards implementing sustainable fuels in the aviation sector.