Production of sustainable aviation fuel-range hydrocarbons via thermal cracking of cumaru oil using red mud as a selective catalyst

The global pursuit of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) has intensified, generating growing interest in innovative catalysts capable of efficiently converting biomass into hydrocarbons. This study evaluated red mud, an abundant byproduct of the Bayer process, as a heterogeneous catalyst for the thermal cracking of cumaru oil (Dipteryx odorata). Consequently, mineralogical and spectroscopic analyses were performed to verify the presence of metal oxides, including Fe${}_2$O${}_3$ and Al${}_2$O${}_3$. A comparison was made between products from catalyzed and uncatalyzed reactions. The results demonstrated that red mud selectively enhanced the production of C₉-C₁₇ hydrocarbons. The resulting hydrocarbon distribution exhibited a strong resemblance to that of commercial aviation kerosene, underscoring its potential for use in the synthesis of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It is noteworthy that the thermal cracking of cumaru oil proceeds without requiring hydrogenation, as the red mud catalyst effectively promotes decarbonylation and decarboxylation pathways. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed a significant reduction in oxygenated compounds, validating the efficiency of red mud as a selective catalyst. These findings contribute to the advancement of biomass conversion processes and highlight its potential for large-scale deployment in sustainable aviation.