Techno-economic analysis of acetoin processing via different process routes to a sustainable aviation fuel

Background: In order to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5 °C global warming target, efforts need to be made in all sectors to accelerate defossilisation. In the transport sector, and especially in the aviation sector, a "green" liquid fuel with a high energy density is needed (drop-in aviation fuel). Different advanced raw materials are available for the production of fuels, which can be used as a source of carbon and energy. These raw materials can be converted into fuel components via various intermediates and biochemical and thermochemical processes. One possibility for an intermediate chemical is acetoin, which can be produced via different thermo- and biochemical process routes. Acetoin can then be further processed to long-chain hydrocarbons and therefore also into hydrocarbons with the chain length of jet fuel.

Research Task: Based on this background, the aim of this master's thesis is to analyze the different process routes, starting from acetoin intermediate to jet fuel components, to expand the possible process routes for the production of renewable aviation fuels. The following items may be a subtopic under the main objective and study criteria:

• TRL classification of different process alternatives
• Technical comparison of the processes with a focus on the production of jet fuel components
  • Carbon efficiency
  • Energy efficiency
• Economic comparison of the process alternatives (e.g., capital and operating costs)

Literature:

• Zhu, Chenjie et al.: Production of liquid hydrocarbon fuels with acetoin and platform molecules derived from lignocellulose (2015)
• Cui, Xingkai et al.: A novel route for the flexible preparation of hydrocarbon jet fuels from biomass-based platform chemicals: a case of using furfural and 2,3-butanediol as feedstocks (2018)

Organization: The work can be done either in German or English. At the beginning, it is necessary to prepare a compre-hensive exposé in which the thematic background is explained by means of a (short) literature review and the objective as well as a possible methodology is explained in more detail. A structured and solution-oriented way of working is expected.

Contact Persons (Please via e-mail and incl. CV)