Sustainable production of high-density and low-freezing-point jet fuel via catalytic conversion of lignocellulose-derived furfuryl alcohol and acetone

The synthesis of high-density jet fuels (HDJFs) from lignocellulosic biomass addresses urgent demands for carbon-neutral aviation. An innovative strategy for synthesizing renewable HDJFs with a yield of 98.02 % from furfuryl alcohol and acetone as feedstocks was first reported. The synthetic route integrates key steps including condensation, hydrogenation, dehydration, aqueous phase rearrangement, cross-Diels-Alder reaction and hydrodeoxygenation. Finally, technoeconomic analysis and environmental impact assessment were performed for the optimal catalysts identified at each reaction step to evaluate their overall viability. The final fuel product exhibits a high density of 0.908 g/cm3 and a low freezing point of −42.8 °C, overcoming the traditional trade-off between density and low-temperature. Technoeconomic and environmental analyses revealed that producing 1 kg of HDJF requires 0.878 kg furfuryl alcohol, 1.257 kg acetone, and US$2.962, with associated CO2 emissions of 1.904 kg. Compared to conventional fossil-based jet fuels, this approach achieves a 56.8 % reduction in carbon emissions, demonstrating strong potential for sustainable and economically viable jet fuel production.