A novel integrated process for selective preparation of jet-range fuels from low carbon alcohols and ABE

The development of effective route for the production of jet fuels from low carbon alcohols or ABE (acetone/butanol/ethanol) is of great significance for reducing carbon emission. The purpose of this work is to prove that jet fuels can be selectively produced from ABE and lower alcohols. This novel synthetic strategy was based on an integrated process: alcohols dehydration to light olefins over the SAPO-34 catalyst and olefin polymerization to jet fuels over the 2%Ni@5%Fe@Hβ catalyst. The comparison between the single bed reaction mode and double bed reaction mode, the active sites of the catalysts, and the reusability of the catalysts were investigated. The double bed reaction mode significantly improved the selectivity of jet fuels in the catalytic conversion of ABE and low carbon alcohols. High selectivity of jet-range fuels (80.1%) and high conversion of ABE (94.8%) were achieved by the integrated process.