Direct Synthesis of Aromatics for Jet Fuel by Integrating CO₂-FTS and Toluene Alkylation Reaction

Catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to jet fuel components (C8–C16) via Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is of great importance to carbon neutrality for the aviation industry, while the wide product distribution remains a challenge, with a theoretical limit of only 41% for C8–C16 hydrocarbons. Here, we present a process with the selectivity of C8–C16 up to 75% by coupling the CO2-FTS and toluene alkylation reaction. The olefin intermediates generated in situ from CO2 hydrogenation over iron-based catalysts were preferentially alkylated with toluene over acid sites for the selective formation of aromatics for jet fuel, which presents higher stability than that by using ethene directly as the alkylation agent. H2/D2 isotope experiments indicate that C8–C16 aromatics are substantially generated from toluene alkylation. The further regulation of jet fuel range aromatics by acid sites was explained in depth by DFT.