LanzaTech gets DOE OK on alcohol-to-jet fuel R&D

In New Zealand, LanzaTech announced that its cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with PNNL has been given final approval by the DOE.  The first phase of the CRADA work will focus on converting some of LanzaTech’s products to drop in jet fuel. Lanzatech’s clean energy technology can produce 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BD), an oxygenate which can be used to make hydrocarbon fuels – true drop in fuels that can replace diesel, jet fuel and gasoline – and high value chemicals.

“Alcohols to aviation fuel is a viable approach and it is one I think is worth pursuing,” said LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren. “Because of the way we produce our alcohols, this will certainly be a fuel that won’t compete with the food supply or impact available land resources as the CO/CO+H2 is produced from cellulosic biomass or waste gas streams.

“The key will be producing the alcohols cheaply enough that you can get a good yield/cost structure during the condensation/oligomerization process as you reject quite a bit of water as you condense the alcohol molecules to make jet fuel. This project is an example of our strategy to bolt on thermochem and biochem approaches to create an optimum, sustainable solution… where sustainability refers to balancing economic, environmental and social not just environmental factors.”

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