Production of renewable hydrocarbons and value-added bioproducts via non-Kolbe electrolysis of fatty acids derived from safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

The growing demand for renewable routes to produce fuels and chemical feedstocks has driven the development of energetically efficient deoxygenation strategies. In this work, we report an electrochemical non-Kolbe decarboxylation route applied to a real mixture of fatty acids obtained from the hydrolysis of safflower oil ( Carthamus tinctorius L.). The transformations were carried out in an undivided electrochemical cell employing graphite electrodes under potentiostatic operation and mild conditions (ambient temperature and pressure), without the use of metal catalysts or redox reagents. A systematic optimization of the solvent, base (both inorganic and organic), and applied potential (3–10 V) was performed, enabling modulation of the selectivity between decarboxylative and oxygenative pathways. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry revealed complete conversion of the fatty acids and a hydrocarbon selectivity of 81%, with the predominant formation of compounds in the C6–C17 range, corresponding to the carbon distribution typical of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), along with C6–C18 alcohols. Among the identified products were compounds belonging to the BTX fraction (toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), as well as esters and both linear and branched alkanes of energetic relevance. The results demonstrate high selectivity toward deoxygenated species in aprotic solvent systems combined with inorganic bases, while also highlighting the possibility of accessing higher value oxygenated products under protic and strongly basic conditions. The proposed protocol combines operational simplicity, low energy input, and product tunability, indicating strong potential for integration into biorefinery platforms aimed at the production of renewable hydrocarbons and value-added bioproducts. • Complete conversion of safflower fatty acids via non-Kolbe electrodecaboxylation. • Hydrocarbon selectivity reaching 81% (C 6 -C 17 fraction). • Graphite-based process without metal catalysts under mild conditions. • Selectivity tuned by solvent, base and applied potential. • Co-production of aromatics, esters, and high-value alcohols.