The aviation industry, responsible for 2% of global GHG emissions, is expected to see this figure rise. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) aims for net-zero emissions by 2050, with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a key strategy. Thailand targets a 2-8% SAF blend by 2027, aiming for net-zero by 2065. A 2020 DEDE study identified vegetable oils and ethanol as promising SAF sources in Thailand, though limited used cooking oil supplies pose challenges. Diversifying raw materials and technologies could help mitigate these issues. Ethanol is widely used as an alternative fuel in the transportation sector, often blended with gasoline. Thailand’s 28 ethanol plants can produce up to 6.8 million liters per day, but current usage averages 3.5-3.6 million liters, leaving a surplus. Demand for ethanol has stagnated, posing a challenge for the industry. As Thailand shifts towards electric vehicles, ethanol demand is expected to peak at 6 million liters per day and then decline over the next decade. The ethanol industry should prepare by exploring new opportunities in alternative fuels to mitigate future risks.
The production of SAF from ethanol involves three main steps: converting ethanol to ethylene, oligomerizing the ethylene into hydrocarbons suitable for SAF, and hydrogenating the fuel to enhance stability. Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), in collaboration with the Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University and the Faculty of Science and Technology at Thammasat University, has studied the ethylene production from ethanol and the subsequent oligomerization process. This research, conducted at the lab scale, has achieved a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4, focusing on producing hydrocarbon compounds with the carbon chain lengths needed for bio-based aviation fuel. Preliminary assessments indicate that SAF production from ethanol is more expensive than petroleum-based jet fuel.
TISTR, along with the Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University and the Faculty of Science and Technology at Thammasat University, has collaborated on biofuel and biochemical research projects for over six years. The research team will continue to develop prototype technologies for SAF production, emphasizing improvements in catalysts and process optimization to enhance yield and reduce costs. The objective is to create efficient, eco-friendly technologies with practical applications. This project aims to add value to the ethanol industry by leveraging domestically developed technology to produce SAF, thus supporting sustainable development, carbon neutrality, and renewable energy goals. It also addresses potential risks to the ethanol industry due to decreasing demand as electric vehicles become more prevalent.
You can explore this research in the following studies:
- Attanatho, L., et al. “Valorization of Oil Palm Trunk Waste: A Path to Green Catalyst for Bioethylene Synthesis via Diluted Ethanol Dehydration.” Waste Biomass Valorization, vol. 15, 2024, pp. 3031–3044. DOI: 10.1007/s12649-023-02368-1.
- Attanatho, L., et al. “Jet Fuel Range Hydrocarbon Synthesis through Ethylene Oligomerization over Platelet Ni-AlSBA-15 Catalyst.” SN Applied Sciences, vol. 2, 2020, article 971. DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-2784-2.
- Panpian, P., et al. “Production of Bio-Jet Fuel through Ethylene Oligomerization Using NiAlKIT-6 as a Highly Efficient Catalyst.” Fuel, vol. 287, 2021, article 119831. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119831.
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