This proposal supports the efficient production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through an integrated three-step process consisting of methanol conversion to olefins (MTO), olefin oligomerization (OLI) and finally hydrogenation of the long-chain olefins.

This project will focus on the first, MTO step in the overall process and optimize the production of the olefins needed in the subsequent OLI step, which is under investigation by a project in MissionGreenFuels pool 1. It has been suggested that to improve the catalytic activity and selectivity for olefin oligomerization to jet range hydrocarbons, olefins in the range of C_4-8 are preferred from the MTO step. The shape-selective nature of 1-dimensional, 10-membered ring zeolite/zeotype materials has shown the ability to produce C_4-8 olefins with minimal aromatization from methanol and will therefore be in the focus of our catalyst development activities. Initial lab-scale measurements with such zeolite materials have shown promising results. However, going from an isothermal lab-scale reactor to an adiabatic pilot-scale reactor where the temperature increases up to 100 °C through the reactor raises questions about mass-transport limitations and temperature effects on the performance.