This project aims to develop catalysts designed for upgrading waste streams, including used cooking oils, beef tallow, and other waste triglycerides, into aviation fuels. The challenge is to stabilize such alternative sulphur-free catalysts under the steam conditions encountered during triglyceride conversion.
Catalysis plays a crucial role in many chemical processes that support modern society, and there's an urgent need to shift from fossil-based resources to renewable ones for energy and fuel production. While electrification is advancing in the mobility sector, industries like aviation remain challenging to decarbonize. This project focuses on developing catalysts to upgrade waste triglyceride streams, such as used cooking oils and beef tallows, into aviation fuels. Currently, the industry relies on sulfided catalysts that, while less efficient in hydrogenation than noble-metal systems, are chosen for their stability under the high H2O, CO, and CO2 pressures present during the process. However, these catalysts require the continuous addition of sulfur, which must be removed later, leading to the need for costly multi-stage production units. This project aims to develop sulfur-free catalysts that can effectively remove oxygen from the feedstock, improving stability under steam conditions while reducing costs and accelerating the transition to renewable energy.
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