BEIJING — The "1,000-Tonne CO2 Hydrogenation to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Technology," jointly developed by Tsinghua University, Sichuan Golden-Elephant Sincerity Chemical Co., Ltd. (Sichuan Golden-Elephant Sincerity), and partner institutions, recently passed an authoritative technical evaluation organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF). The assessment committee unanimously determined that the technological achievement represents a world-first, with overall performance reaching an internationally leading level.

Utilizing a dual-functional coupled catalyst composed of nano-spinel and zeolites alongside a catalytic shunt strategy with multi-active-site, the technology addresses long-standing challenges in carbon dioxide activation and targeted product selectivity while achieving scale-up for high-pressure fluidized bed reactors.

The pilot demonstration unit has operated continuously and safely for over 2,000 hours. Test results show a total CO2 conversion rate of 97.37%, C8+ Jet‑fuel‑range component selectivity of 92.37%, mixed aromatics selectivity of 86.7%, and byproduct methane selectivity of just 1.67%. Producing one tonne of Jet‑fuel‑range component consumes approximately 3.65 tonnes of CO2 and roughly 5,020 Nm³ of hydrogen. Test confirms that the resulting product fully meets all technical requirements of standard GB 6537-2025 No. 3 Jet Fuel.

By successfully integrating catalytic reactions, high-pressure fluidized bed operations, and 1,000-tonne-scale continuous processing, this milestone establishes a novel synthetic pathway for SAF production using industrial CO2 and green hydrogen. The evaluation panel recommended accelerating the deployment of a 10,000-tonne-scale commercial demonstration facility.

Source:CIHC