Abstract
Recent demands for low aromatic content jet fuels have shown significant increase in the last 20 years. This was generated by the growing of aviation. Furthermore, the quality requirements have become more aggravated for jet fuels. This was generated by the more severe environmental regulations and the increasing demand for performance requirements. Nowadays reduced aromatic hydrocarbon fractions are necessary for the production of jet fuels with good burning properties, which contribute to less harmful material emission.
The aim of our experimental work was to study the catalytic transformability to jet fuel of coconut oil at different process parameters (temperature, pressure, liquid hourly space velocity, H2/feedstock volume ratio). We carried out the experiments on a metal/support catalyst (T = 280 - 360 °C, LHSV = 1.0 - 3.0 h-1,P= 30 bar, H2/feedstock volume ratio = 600 Nm3/m3).
Based on the experimental results in case of the studied feedstock the yield and the properties of the products were favourable at the following process parameter combinations: temperature 360 °C, pressure 30 bar, LHSV 1.0 h-1, volume ratio H2/feedstock volume ratio 600 Nm3/m3. Based on the quality properties of the product mixtures we determined that we successfully produced products with a high yield(approaching theoretical yield >90 %), that have a reduced aromatic content, their performance properties are excellent. These are excellent jet fuel blending components, what are compatible with current fuel systems and jet fuel blending components, they damage the environment less.
