Sustainable aviation fuels

Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to sustainable fuels and methods for making the same. In an embodiment, a process for producing a sustainable aviation fuel composition is included. The process can include mixing a lipid feedstock with at least one branched chain alcohol to form a reaction mixture. In some embodiments the process can include mixing a branched carboxylic acid with at least one branched chain alcohol to form a reaction mixture. In some embodiments, combinations of different carboxylic acids and/or alcohols can be used. The process can further include contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst at greater than room temperature and pressure to form reaction products. The catalyst can include a metal oxide catalyst, such as at least one selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, zirconia, and hafnia. Other embodiments are also included herein.

1 . A process for producing a sustainable aviation fuel composition comprising:
 mixing a lipid feedstock with at least one branched chain alcohol to form a reaction mixture; and   contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst at greater than room temperature and pressure to form reaction products, the catalyst comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, zirconia, and hafnia.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , the at least one branched chain alcohol comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of isoheptanol, isooctanol, isononanol, and isodecanol. 
     
     
         6 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , the at least one branched chain alcohol comprising 2-ethyl octanol. 
     
     
         7 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , the at least one branched chain alcohol comprising 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is 0 to 10, R1 is linear or branched, aliphatic or aromatic, saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated, C1 to C20 alkyl, alkene, or alkyne, and R2 is linear or branched, aliphatic or aromatic, saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated, C1 to C20 alkyl, alkene, or alkyne. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing the lipid feedstock with at least one C5 or greater branched chain alcohol and at least one C4 or less straight chain alcohol to form a reaction mixture. 
     
     
         11 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing the lipid feedstock with at least one C5 or greater branched chain alcohol and at least one of methanol, ethanol, propanol, or butanol to form a reaction mixture. 
     
     
         12 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing a lipid feedstock with at least two branched chain alcohols to form a reaction mixture, wherein the at least two branched chain alcohols have a different chain length from one another. 
     
     
         13 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , the lipid feedstock comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of safflower oil, tall oil fatty acid, tung oil, linolenic acid, pennycress oil, coconut oil, castor oil, and flaxseed oil. 
     
     
         14 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , the contacting the reaction mixture with the catalyst at greater than room temperature and pressure to form reaction products comprising contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst at a pressure of 500 to 2000 PSI. 
     
     
         15 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , the contacting the reaction mixture with the catalyst at greater than room temperature and pressure to form reaction products comprising contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst at greater than 200° C. 
     
     
         16 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , the contacting the reaction mixture with the catalyst at greater than room temperature and pressure to form reaction products comprising contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst at greater than 300° C. 
     
     
         17 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sustainable aviation fuel composition has a freezing point of −40 degrees Celsius or less. 
     
     
         18 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sustainable aviation fuel composition has a flash point of greater than 38 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         19 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least 10% by weight of the sustainable aviation fuel composition has a boiling point of 205 degrees Celsius or less. 
     
     
         20 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the sustainable aviation fuel composition has a boiling point of 300 degrees Celsius or less. 
     
     
         21 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sustainable aviation fuel composition meets Jet (Original) A standards per ASTM D1655. 
     
     
         22 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sustainable aviation fuel composition meets Jet A-1 standards per ASTM D1655. 
     
     
         23 . The process for producing the sustainable aviation fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sustainable aviation fuel composition meets ASTM D7566. 
     
     
         24 . A process for producing a sustainable aviation fuel composition comprising:
 mixing a lipid feedstock with at least one aromatic alcohol to form a reaction mixture; and   contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst at greater than room temperature and pressure to form reaction products, the catalyst comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, zirconia, and hafnia.   
     
     
         25 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A process for producing a sustainable fuel composition comprising:
 mixing a branched carboxylic acid with at least one branched chain alcohol to form a reaction mixture; and   contacting the reaction mixture with a catalyst at greater than room temperature and pressure to form reaction products, the catalyst comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, zirconia, and hafnia.   
     
     
         43 - 68 . (canceled)