Wood to Jet Fuel Conversion Technology.

Thermal deoxygenation (TDO) is a reaction scheme which converts neutralized biomass hydrolyzates that contain mixtures of levulinic and formic acid salts, to hydrocarbon oils in single-reactor. TDO is a UMaine-patented technology that combines ketonization, condensation and dehydration reactions in an inert environment to efficiently remove oxygen from the acids and produce a complex mixture of petroleum-soluble hydrocarbons (synthetic crude oil), water, non-condensable gases and chars. The synthetic crude oils typically have less than 4 wt. % oxygen, phase separate from water and have energy density above 40 MJ/kg which make them comparable to petroleum crude. A multi-disciplinary team is evaluating regional sustainability of this energy pathway in the light of specific opportunities that would allow adaptation or repurposing of existing wood processing infrastructure (Kraft pulp mills, in particular).