Abstract
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production from biomass and biowaste streams is an attractive option for decarbonizing the aviation sector, one of the most-difficult-to-electrify transportation sectors. Despite ongoing commercialization efforts using ASTM-certified pathways (e.g., lipid conversion, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis), production capacities are still inadequate due to limited feedstock supply and high production costs. New conversion technologies that utilize lignocellulosic feedstocks are needed to meet these challenges and satisfy the rapidly growing market. Combining bio- and chemo-catalytic approaches can leverage advantages from both methods, i.e., high product selectivity via biological conversion, and the capability to build C-C chains more efficiently via chemical catalysis. Herein, conversion routes, catalysis, and processes for such pathways are discussed, while key challenges and meaningful R&D opportunities are identified to guide future research activities in the space. Bio- and chemo-catalytic conversion primarily utilize the carbohydrate fraction of lignocellulose, leaving lignin as a waste product. This makes lignin conversion to SAF critical in order to utilize whole biomass, thereby lowering overall production costs while maximizing carbon efficiencies. Thus, lignin valorization strategies are also reviewed herein with vital research areas identified, such as facile lignin depolymerization approaches, highly integrated conversion systems, novel process configurations, and catalysts for the selective cleavage of aryl C–O bonds. The potential efficiency improvements available via integrated conversion steps, such as combined biological and chemo-catalytic routes, along with the use of different parallel pathways, are identified as key to producing all components of a cost-effective, 100% SAF.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1210-1234 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Green Energy and Environment |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2025 |
Funding
M.W. Y.P. M.S. B.S. C.E.W. G.A.T. Y.R. T.L. A.J.R. and B.H.D. were partially supported by the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI), a U.S. DOE Bioenergy Research Center supported by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research in the DOE Office of Science and led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC for the US DOE under Contract Number DE-AC05-00OR22725. This work was authored in part by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-LC-000L054. K.K. and M.T. gratefully acknowledge funding for this research provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) under Contract No. DE-AC05-76RL01830. S.P.A. was supported by Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) funding from Argonne National Laboratory, provided by the Director, Office of Science, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. M.W., Y.P., M.S., B.S., C.E.W., G.A.T., Y.R., T.L., A.J.R., and B.H.D. were partially supported by the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) , a U.S. DOE Bioenergy Research Center supported by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research in the DOE Office of Science and led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory . Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC for the US DOE under Contract Number DE-AC05-00OR22725. This work was authored in part by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-LC-000L054. K.K. and M.T. gratefully acknowledge funding for this research provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) under Contract No. DE-AC05-76RL01830. S.P.A. was supported by Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) funding from Argonne National Laboratory , provided by the Director, Office of Science, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Keywords
- Bio- and chemo-catalytic conversion
- Catalysis
- Lignin valorization
- Lignocellulose
- Sustainable aviation fuel