PNNL

Abstract

This study focuses on developing a catalytic process for the aromatization of mixed olefin (comprised of C2-C6) over various metal doped zeolites towards the formation of large aromatics (preferably C8-C16) compliance to the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Experiments were carried out using model olefin feedstocks containing either ethylene (C2) or mixture of C2 and C3+ olefins. Both the catalyst composition and process parameters were evaluated in detail to identify their impact on the formation large aromatics. We specifically focus on the aromatization of ethylene as the model reaction and evaluated the impact of C2+ olefins and paraffins that may present in the real feedstock. In all the reaction condition, aromatization of ethylene was used as the baseline to evaluate the effect of larger olefins or paraffins. Our results show that at this reaction condition paraffins remained either inert or show positive impact on the formation of large aromatics. While C2 and C3 olefins are highly reactive towards aromatization during reaction condition, large olefins are less reactive and thus, strategy was developed to oligomerize these large olefins (C4+) alongside the aromatization of smaller olefins (C2/C3).