Coal makes jet fuel

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University fuel scientist has created a high quality jet fuel derived from at least 50 per cent bituminous coal and successfully used it to power a helicopter jet engine.

Harold H. Schobert, professor of fuel science and director of Penn State's Energy Institute, said that because the fuel is 50 per cent derived from coal, it could reduce the US's use of imported petroleum for jet fuel by half. "We have shown in tests that the mix can go to at least 75 per cent coal," he said.

The fuel, provisionally designated JP900, is produced in one of two processes under investigation by Schobert. The process uses light cycle oil (a petroleum by-product) and coal-derived refined chemical oil, which is a by-product of the coke industry. The researchers mix the two components and add hydrogen. When distilled, jet fuel comes off as a distillate.

The process can be carried out in existing refineries with some retrofitting and small amounts of the leftover components will feed into various portions of the petroleum stream. The lighter portions will go to the pool of chemicals that make gasoline and the heavier ones go to the diesel or fuel oil streams.