Reductive Catalytic Fractionation as a Lignin-First Biorefinery Platform for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Precursors and High-Value Resins
Guest Speaker: Prof. Bert Sels, European Academy of Sciences Fellow, distinguished full professor, KU Leuven, Belgium
Date & Time:14:00-15:00, 25. April, 2026
Location: Yiucheng Lecture Hall 500, Xu Zuyao Building
Inviter: Assoc.Prof. Feili Lai
Biography
Professor Bert F. Sels is a distinguished full professor at KU Leuven and serves as the director of the CSCE research group. His current research centers on heterogeneous catalysis, with particular emphasis on zeolite-based systems and addressing key challenges in industrial organic and environmental catalysis. Throughout his career, he has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles and holds more than 40 patents. He is co-chair of the Catalysis Commission of the International Zeolite Association (IZA), co-founder of the European Research Institute of Catalysis (ERIC), a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, European Academy of Sciences Fellow and a member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts.
Abstract：
Decarbonizing aviation requires sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) routes that complement current paraffinic pathways with renewable cyclic hydrocarbons such as naphthenes and aromatics. Reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) is a promising lignin-first biorefinery technology that converts lignocellulosic biomass into stabilized lignin oils with tunable structures, offering versatile precursors for SAF and high-value co-products. Whole RCF lignin oils can be upgraded by hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) into jet-range cycloalkanes with high carbon efficiency. Product yields and selectivity depend strongly on biomass origin and lignin oil functionality generated during RCF. Hardwood-derived oils generally provide higher cycloalkane yields and favorable C9–C15 hydrocarbon distributions than softwood oils. Fractionation further shows that lighter lignin oil fractions, rich in monomeric phenolics, preferentially form mono-naphthenes, while heavier fractions generate dimer-derived bi-naphthenes in the C14–C18 range, both relevant for SAF blending.
An alternative route uses separated phenolic monomers in Friedel–Crafts alkylation with furfuryl alcohol, followed by HDO, yielding kerosene-range hydrocarbons with near-quantitative carbon retention. This demonstrates efficient integration of lignin- and carbohydrate-derived intermediates, although sulfur impurities in furanic feeds must be controlled to avoid catalyst poisoning. The remaining lignin oligomers can be upgraded into high-performance epoxy resin precursors, improving overall process economics. Thus, RCF enables an integrated lignin-first biorefinery that maximizes carbon utilization across fuels and materials, offering a scalable pathway toward low-carbon aviation and sustainable materials.