PNNL part of Virgin Atlantic Airlines' project to fly on biofuels
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Category: ResearchType: News
Source: PNNL
Date: Wednesday, September 14th, 2016
September 14, 2016 
RICHLAND, Wash. - The D.O.E.'s Pacific Northwest National Lab has been working with industry partner, LanzaTech, to convert alcohols derived from captured carbon monoxide, a byproduct in the production of steel, into synthetic paraffinic kerosene, a non-fossil-based jet fuel. The technology not only provides a viable source of sustainable jet fuel but also reduces the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere.
PNNL has licensed its catalytic conversion process to LanzaTech. During the 2nd stage of their process, ethanol is run through a PNNL-developed catalyst that converts ethanol to jet fuel by removing the oxygen and combining hydrocarbons. To control the reactions, PNNL borrowed technology it developed to convert methanol to gasoline and created a new, specialized catalyst. The catalyst 1st removes water from the ethanol, leaving behind ethylene. The small ethylene hydrocarbons are then combined to form hydrocarbon chains large enough for jet fuel without forming aromatics that lead to sooting when burned. The fuel meets all the specifications required for use in commercial aviation - not an easy thing to do. Read more about Virgin Atlantic's flight projects here.
Tags: Energy, Environment, Fundamental Science, Emissions, Renewable Energy, Biofuel, Green Energy, Climate Science
Interdisciplinary teams at Pacific Northwest National Lab address many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science. Founded in 1965, PNNL employs 4,400 staff and has an yearly budget of nearly $1 billion. It is managed by Battelle for the D.O.E.'s Office of Science. As the single biggest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information on PNNL, visit the PNNL News Center, or follow PNNL on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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