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Aldol condensation of biomass-derives coupled with hydrogenation is a promising route for the production of renewable aviation fuel. In this study, a bifunctional catalyst was prepared to integrate the aldol condensation of cyclopentanone and hydroprocessing for aviation fuel in one pot. Due to its strong mild-basic sites, Mg–Al–O performed the best with the total yield of dimer and trimer of 80.4%. Nickel was screened out to be favorable for hydrogenation. Considering the unsatisfactory porous structure of Ni/Mg–Al–O, the bifunctional catalyst was prepared with activated carbon (AC) as carrier. With Ni loading of 20 wt%, the maximum yield of targeted alkanes reached 81.1% over Ni/Mg–Al–O/AC. The calcination and reduction temperature in the preparation process were both optimized at 550 °C. In the reusability test, the yield of targeted alkanes reduced to 31.6% in the 5th run. To attenuate the hydration effect, n-pentane was introduced as solvent, and the bifunctional Ni/Mg–Al–O/AC performed stably in 5 runs. By the design of bifunctional catalyst based on the theoretical basis to realize the integration of C–C coupling and hydrogenation in one pot, it will promote the development of aviation fuel from biomass in a more sustainable and green way. Image 1 • A bifunctional catalyst was explored to integrate condensation & hydroprocessing. • Mg–Al–O and Ni/γ-Al 2 O 3 were screened out for aldol condensation and hydroprocessing. • To obtain better porosity of Ni/Mg–Al–O, activated carbon was chosen as the support. • The maximal yield of targeted alkanes in the range of aviation fuel reached 81.1%. • The bifunctional Ni/Mg–Al–O/AC performed stably in 5 runs with n-pentane as solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-pot method for jet fuel based on biomass-derived ketone platform compound has been developed through aldol condensation and hydrogenation over bifunctional catalysts. In this study, the problem of poor reusability of catalysts and the side reaction of hydrogenation could be solved effectively. Organic solvents were added into the reaction to reduce the contact between the catalysts and water. In the reusability tests, the yield of targeted hydrocarbons remained around 70% in 5 runs with the optimized cyclopentanone/n-pentane volume ratio of 1:2. With the hydrogen being introduced first, the condensation and hydrogenation were integrated into one step. Considering that part of cyclopentanone was hydrogenated directly, a method of low-temperature condensation (170 °C) and high-temperature hydrogenation (260 °C) was proposed. The temperature at each stage of the reaction was controlled strictly and the total yield of targeted alkanes was boosted by 6.3% compared with that in one-step method. By the design of the reaction process with bifunctional catalyst in one pot, it will promote the development of aviation fuel from biomass in a more sustainable and greener way. • Jet fuel was produced by condensation and hydrogenation of cyclopentanone in one pot. • The favorable cyclopentanone/n-pentane ratio was determined to be 1:2. • The yield of targeted hydrocarbons kept stable around 70% in 5 runs. • Side reaction happened in the method with synchronous condensation and hydrogenation. • The yield of targeted hydrocarbons by one-pot method was boosted by 6.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]