A catalyst technology for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that can significantly reduce carbon emissions by utilizing carbon dioxide has been developed. It is expected to contribute to carbon neutrality by capturing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and producing isoparaffin, a high value-added hydrocarbon.

UNIST (President Jong-Rae Park) Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering Professor Kwang-Jin Ahn's research team and LG Chem's Carbon Neutral Research TFT announced on the 12th that they have developed an isoparaffin generating catalyst suitable for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using carbon dioxide.

It was used together with an iron-based catalyst to replace the existing zeolite catalyst and successfully increased the isoparaffin production ratio.

In particular, aviation fuel produced using platinum-based tungsten-zirconia catalysts is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to existing fossil fuel-based aviation fuel. It is also characterized by greatly improving process efficiency by directly converting carbon dioxide into isoparaffin.

This catalyst has high potential for commercialization because it produces little carbon deposition and can exhibit stable reaction over a long period of time. It is expected to help dramatically reduce carbon emissions not only in the aviation industry but also in other transportation sectors.

Professor Ahn Gwang-jin explained, “We have presented a new catalytic method that can overcome the limitations of existing zeolite catalysts, which are vulnerable to coke during reaction, and maximize the production ratio of isoparaffin.”

Kim Won-hee, a senior researcher at LG Chem, emphasized, “This technology has high industrial value as it can improve fuel economy and minimize costs incurred during additional refining processes.”

Currently, the air transport sector accounts for 24.5% of total carbon dioxide emissions, and the commercialization of SAF is emerging as an urgent task to achieve carbon neutrality. The International Air Transport Association is strengthening regulations to increase the use of SAF.

The research was conducted with technical support from the Korea Basic Science Institute, and the results were published online on August 9 in the world-renowned international academic journal 'ACS Catalysis'. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Materials, Components and Equipment Support Project.