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28 Apr 2022

Lignin-based jet fuel could oust aromatics

Aircraft engine performance and efficiency could be improved with an experimental plant-based jet fuel that dispenses with aromatics, according to new research.

A Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientist helps develop a sustainable fuel component as part of research into bio-based jet fuels - (Credit: PNNL)

In a study published in Fuel, researchers analysed a Washington State University-developed jet fuel based on lignin, the organic polymer that makes plants tough and woody.

Using a series of tests and predictions, the researchers examined fuel properties critical to jet engine operation, including seal swell, density, efficiency, and emissions. Their results suggest that this sustainable fuel could be mixed with other biofuels to fully replace petroleum-derived fuels.

“When we tested our lignin jet fuel, we saw some interesting results,” said Bin Yang, professor with WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering and corresponding author on the study. “We found that it not only had increased energy density and content but also could totally replace aromatics, which are a real problem for the aviation industry.”

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