Optimizing carbon efficiency of jet fuel range alkanes from cellulose co-fed with polyethylene via catalytically combined processes

•It is the first time to convert co-reactants of biomass and plastics into jet fuels.•There was a positive synergy for aromatics in catalytic microwave co-pyrolysis.•Modified catalysts were employed in respective processes.•Over 39% overall carbon yield of hydrogenated organics were gained.•∼90% selectivity toward jet fuel range alkanes was attained.

Enhanced carbon yields of renewable alkanes for jet fuels were obtained through the catalytic microwave-induced co-pyrolysis and hydrogenation process. The well-promoted ZSM-5 catalyst had high selectivity toward C8–C16 aromatic hydrocarbons. The raw organics with improved carbon yield (∼44%) were more principally lumped in the jet fuel range at the catalytic temperature of 375 °C with the LDPE to cellulose (representing waste plastics to lignocellulose) mass ratio of 0.75. It was also observed that the four species of raw organics from the catalytic microwave co-pyrolysis were almost completely converted into saturated hydrocarbons; the hydrogenation process was conducted in the n-heptane medium by using home-made Raney Ni catalyst under a low-severity condition. The overall carbon yield (with regards to co-reactants of cellulose and LDPE) of hydrogenated organics that mostly match jet fuels was sustainably enhanced to above 39%. Meanwhile, ∼90% selectivity toward jet fuel range alkanes was attained.

Graphical abstractImprovement of renewable alkanes for jet fuels from co-feed catalytic microwave-assisted pyrolysis and hydrogenation process.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide