A combined photobiological–photochemical route to C10 cycloalkane jet fuels from carbon dioxide via isoprene. Issue 24 (17th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rana, Anup; Cid Gomes, Leandro; Rodrigues, João S.; Yacout, Dalia M. M.; Arrou-Vignod, Hugo; Sjölander, Johan; Proos Vedin, Nathalie; El Bakouri, Ouissam; Stensjö, Karin; Lindblad, Peter; Andersson, Leena; Sundberg, Cecilia; Berglund, Mathias; Lindberg, Pia; Ottosson, Henrik
• Is Part Of: Green chemistry. Volume 24:Issue 24(2022)
• Page Start: 9602
• Page End: 9619
• Publication Date: 2022-11-17
• Subjects: Environmental chemistry -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1039/d2gc03272d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9262

Abstract

Abstract : A photobiological–photochemical process, where sunlight can be used, is shown to convert CO2 to C10 cycloalkane jet fuels. The properties are comparable to commercial aviation fuels and LCA indicates the potential sustainability of the process. Abstract : The hemiterpene isoprene is a volatile C5 hydrocarbon with industrial applications. It is generated today from fossil resources, but can also be made in biological processes. We have utilized engineered photosynthetic cyanobacteria for direct, light-driven production of bio-isoprene from carbon dioxide, and show that isoprene in a subsequent photochemical step, using either near-UV or simulated or natural solar light, can be dimerized into limonene, paradiprene, and isomeric C10 H16 hydrocarbons (monoterpenes) in high yields under photosensitized conditions (above 90% after 44 hours with near-UV and 61% with simulated solar light). The optimal sensitizer in our experiments is di(naphth-1-yl)methanone which we use with a loading of 0.1 mol%. It can also easily be recycled for subsequent photodimerization cycles. The isoprene dimers generated are a mixture of [2 + 2], [4 + 2] and [4 + 4] cycloadducts, and after hydrogenation this mixture is nearly ideal as a drop-in jet fuel. Importantly the photodimerization can be carried out at ambient conditions. However, the high content of hydrogenated [2 + 2] dimers in our isoprene dimer mix lowers the flash point below the threshold (38 °C); yet, these dimers can be converted thermally into [4 + 2] and [4 + 4] dimers. When hydrogenated these monoterpenoids fully satisfy the criteria for drop-in jet fuels with regard to energy density, flashpoint, kinematic viscosity, density, and freezing point. Life-cycle assessment results show a potential to produce the fuel in an environmentally sustainable way.