The Technology To Convert Carbon dioxide To Aviation Fuel

The scientists and their team at university of oxford have successfully created the jet fuel from the CO2 using inexpensive iron (Fe) catalyst. The technological research may reduce the rising concern about the environment. The research is led by scientists and their group, the catalyst (the catalysts are chemical compound used in any chemical reaction to increase the rate of reaction, it is used as supporter to enhance chemical reaction) used in the process is iron-magnesium-potassium (Fe-Mn-K) based catalyst which is produced by organic combustion method (OCM). In the process CO2 will be converted through hydrogenation process into hydrocarbon aviation fuel with range 38.2%, yield of 7.2% selectivity of 47.8% with carbon monoxide range of 5.6% and methane selectivity 10.4%. The technology used to process also produces byproducts like ethylene, propylene, butane and olefins with yield of 8.7% and all these byproducts are beneficial raw material for petrochemical industries/corporate world.

Jet fuels which generic name of aviation fuel is composed of linear and branched alkanes and cyclo-alkanes as main component with ideal carbon-chain length is about C8-C16, with recognized concerns over environment it is now necessary to develop clean, energy efficient technologies for producing sustainable and renewable aviation fuel. Here is the graph of conversion rates for various parameters

In past few years converting CO2 in fuel has attracted worldwide interest because the evolving technology can mitigates with greenhouse gas by producing worthy chemical commodities as explain above. There are two methods to convert CO2 to liquid hydrocarbons: -

a) Indirect Route: In this method CO2 will be converted to CO (carbon monoxide) or methanol and subsequently in Hydrocarbon (HC).

b) Direct Route: More precisely you can say CO2 hydrogenation route, this method consists of converting CO2 in CO via RWGS (Reverse Water Gas Shift) and subsequently formation of CO to long chain Hydrocarbon via Fischer Tropsch Synthesis (FTS)

The second method is worldwide accepted because it is more economical and environmentally accepted as it involves fewer chemical processes and energy consumption is also low. The relevant chemical equation for hydrogenation of CO2 is : -

The key to advance the process is to find the highly inexpensive catalyst that can prefentially synthesize the target hydrocarbon range of interest. In this regard iron (Fe) based catalyst are prepared but unfortunately it consumes significant amount of water. The catalyst is used in Reverse Water Gas Shift and Fischer Tropsch Synthesis.

Yet we have not developed any advance catalyst that can accelerate the efficiency range that is required. Scientists have prepared Fe-Mn-K based iron catalyst through organic chemical reaction which shows CO2 conversion of 38.2% selectivity of 47.8% with very low selectivity for methane and carbon monoxide. OCM is used in the process because it is recognized as energy efficient and economically reliable approach.