Biomass derived alkyl levulinate as a potential additive for aviation turbine fuel (Jet A-1 type): Blend formulations and assessment of physicochemical properties

Abstract

The aviation fuel commonly used in airplane/jet turbine engine is fossil based petroleum fuel that is responsible for the soot, aromatics, particulate matter and greenhouse gases emission. Aviation transportation is severely affecting the Environment and finding as the most challenging sector in fulfilling the mission of decarbonization and net-zero emissions. A paradigm shift from conventional aviation fuels (CAF) to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is crucial that can reduce the environmental impact from the aviation emission. This typically involves the biobased or biomass derived carbon base liquid fuels or additives that typically blended to certain proportion in the aviation fuels. In view of this, the present work determines the applicability of various biomass-based alkyl levulinates (methyl, ethyl and butyl) as a potential additive for aviation turbine fuel (ATF). Various methyl, ethyl and butyl levulinate blends (0.25–10 %) with aviation fuel are subjected to determine the different properties (density, lubricity, kinematic viscosity, aromatic contents, smoke point emission, copper strip corrosion, freezing point, cetane index, net heat of combustion (energy content), thermal oxidation stability and CO₂ emission). Experimental results showed that, lubricity property, density, smoke point, corrosion inhibition ability, freezing point and kinematic viscosity is improved while aromatic contents, corrosion ability and soot emission decreases for levulinate blended aviation fuel. Interestingly CO₂ emission (kg/L) was determined and calculations suggested that, CO₂ emission was reduced by 8.86 % for the use of levulinate blended aviation fuel. The present laboratory experimental results demonstrated promising scope to use of alkyl levulinate as a potential possible additive for ATF (Jet A-1 type).