Non-Thermal Plasma Cracking of Algae-Derived Biodiesel into Jet Fuel

The transportation fuel requirements in the U.S. are equivalent to greater than 150 billion gallons of fuel per year. The aviation industries, including commercial and military aviation, are the biggest users of transportation fuel. With the aviation transportation economy inextricably linked to liquid fuels to sustain its large demand, an immediate and viable alternative is to synthesize jet fuel from domestic sources, such as algae-derived biodiesel. This project will develop a low cost, highly-energy-efficient; high-frequency pulsed-plasma (HFPP) assisted catalytic conversion process to convert algae-derived biodiesel into various aviation fuels. The approach will utilize energetic hydrocarbon radicals produced in the plasma, with methane as the feedstock gas. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The proposed method should produce aviation fuels at room temperature and ambient pressure. Jet fuels from algae-derived biodiesel offers the U.S. military and commercial aviation industries another option for sustainable liquid fuels that are critical to their programs. The proposed algae jet fuel will be compatible with existing jet plane engines, thus eliminating the need for retrofitting those engines.