High-Performance, Biobased, Jet Fuel Blends Containing Hydrogenated Monoterpenes and Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosenes

Three biorenewable monoterpenes, α-pinene, limonene, and sabinene, were hydrogenated to generate cycloalkane blendstocks. The saturated terpenes, along with the high density multicyclic fuels JP-10 and RJ-4, were then blended with three different synthetic paraffinic kerosenes (SPKs) in various proportions. The SPKs consisted of HEFA-Jet (a complex mixture of acyclic hydrocarbons generated by hydrotreatment of fatty acids and esters), 5-methylundecane (5-MU, a C12 hydrocarbon that can be generated from bioethanol), and DMO (a C10 branched chain hydrocarbon that can be derived from acyclic monoterpenes, including myrcene and linalool). Blends were limited to <50% cycloalkane by volume with a focus on fuels combining densities higher than the minimum requirement for Jet-A (>0.775 g mL-1), −40 °C kinematic viscosities <12.0 mm2 s–1, and gravimetric net heats of combustion (NHOCs) > 42.80 MJ kg-1. Through this approach, high-performance jet fuels with gravimetric NHOCs of up to 43.68 MJ kg-1 (2.1% higher than the lower limit for Jet-A) or volumetric NHOCs of up to 36.05 MJ L-1 (8.7% higher than the lower limit for Jet-A) could be produced. These biobased, zero-aromatic jet fuels have the potential to deliver enhanced performance compared to Jet-A, while reducing the environmental impact of commercial and military aviation.