Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from lignin: Pathways, catalysts, and challenges

Xianqing Lv; Chengke Zhao; Ning Yan; Xinbing Ma; Shixing Feng; Li Shuai

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132039

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from lignin: Pathways, catalysts, and challenges

Bioresour Technol. 2025 Jan 4:419:132039. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132039. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xianqing Lv¹, Chengke Zhao², Ning Yan³, Xinbing Ma⁴, Shixing Feng⁵, Li Shuai⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002 Fujian, China.
² College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002 Fujian, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou 350207, China.
⁴ Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou 350207, China; Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002 Fujian, China; Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou 350207, China; Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ College of Materials Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002 Fujian, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39761729
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132039

Abstract

The aviation industry plays a crucial role in global trade and cultural exchange, but it faces significant challenges due to high production cost and environmental impacts. To achieve carbon neutrality, promoting the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is essential, with projections indicating that 65% of emissions reductions in the aviation industry by 2050 will come from the use of SAF. Lignin, as an abundant renewable resource, has great potential for conversion into aviation fuel components. It can be depolymerized and/or hydrodeoxygenated (HDO) to produce C6-C9 alkanes. However, to produce high-density SAF, lignin monomers need to undergo coupling, alkylation, and transalkylation reactions to extend the carbon chain to C8-C16 precursors, which can then be converted into long-chain alkanes suitable for SAF through HDO reactions. This paper reviews the research progress on synthesis of lignin-based SAF, highlights key synthetic methods, and analyzes how catalyst and reaction conditions affect the synthesis pathways, efficiency, and properties of SAF. Additionally, the obstacles and challenges hindering the development of biomass-based SAFs are discussed to provide theoretical support for future research in this field.

Keywords: Alkylation; HDO; Lignin; SAF.

Publication types

Review