Aviation Biofuels: Conversion Routes and Challenges

According to Energy outlook 2020, the aviation fuel consumption is expected to increase 13% by year 2050, as compared to year 2019. Increased cost of petroleum fuels and growing environmental concerns have made the aviationAviation biofuels industry to include biofuel as a possible fuel source. Non-edible oils, energy crops and algae are the common feedstock for jet fuel production. There are several biomasses-to-jet fuel conversionBiomass-to-jet fuel conversion pathways such as lipid hydro-processing, Fischer–Tropsch synthesisFischer-Tropsch synthesis (F-T), alcohol-to-jet fuel, pyrolysis processPyrolysis process, hydrothermal liquefactionHydroThermal Liquefaction (HTL) and blending of fatty acid methyl esterFatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME). However, the sustainable production of jet biofuel is still under research. This chapter discusses the opportunities and challenges of these technologies from sustainable development perspective.