GHG emissions from jatropha-based bioderived synthetic paraffinic kerosene

Abstract

Background: The aviation industry is facing increasing pressure to reduce its GHG emissions. A potential low-emission alternative to conventional kerosene (Jet A-1), produced by fossil fuel resources, is bioderived synthetic paraffinic kerosene. This article assesses various production scenarios of bioderived synthetic paraffinic kerosene from Jatropha curcas L., considering the overall GHG emissions of its life cycle. Results and discussion: When compared with GHG emissions from fossil Jet A-1, some of the investigated scenarios have the potential to reduce the GHG emissions by more than 35%. The main impacts come from the jatropha cultivation and the production of hydrogen for the conversion process. Conclusion: If these production steps were optimized, the GHG emissions could potentially fall below 50% of the fossil Jet A-1 level.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.