Production Cost and Carbon Footprint of Biomass-Derived Dimethylcyclooctane as a High-Performance Jet Fuel Blendstock

Near-term decarbonization of aviation requires energy-dense, renewable liquid fuels. Biomass-derived 1,4-dimethylcyclooctane (DMCO), a cyclic alkane with volumetric net heat combustion up to 9.2% higher than Jet A, has the potential serve as low-carbon, high-performance jet fuel blendstock that may enable paraffinic bio-jet fuels operate without aromatic compounds. DMCO can be produced from bio-derived isoprenol (3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol) through multistep upgrading process. This study presents detailed process configurations for production estimate minimum selling price and life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint considering three different hydrogenation catalysts two bioconversion pathways. The platinum-based catalyst offers lowest cost GHG $9.0/L-Jet-Aeq 61.4 gCO2e/MJ, given current state technology. However, when supply chain are optimized, Raney nickel is preferable, resulting in $1.5/L-Jet-Aeq 18.3 gCO2e/MJ if biomass sorghum feedstock. point dramatic improvements, including 28 metric-ton/ha yield 95–98% theoretical maximum conversion biomass-to-sugars, sugars-to-isoprenol, isoprenol-to-isoprene, isoprene-to-DMCO. Because increased gravimetric energy density translates reduced aircraft weight, also improve efficiency, particularly on long-haul flights.