Project Upcycling Biomass to Sustainable Aviation Fuel via Far-equilibrium Electrification Program DUIRI - Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship Term Spring 2024 Status Accepted Research Area Chemistry, Materials, Energy, Sustainability Description Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a highly promising solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of air travel. Unlike traditional fossil-based fuels, SAF is synthesized from renewable resources such as agricultural waste, algae, and other biomass materials. While SAF has emerged as a critical component in the aviation industry, its synthesis still suffers from low yield, poor selectivity, limited reaction rate, and unsatisfying catalyst performance. In this project, we will develop an electrified thermochemical method to convert model cellulosic biomass feedstock to SAF components. The innovative electrified heating approach not only allows us to operate thermochemical reactions under far-equilibrium state towards improved product yield and selectivity, it also offers the potential of leveraging the increasingly available renewable energy resources for sustainable chemical manufacturing. The approach and protocol to be developed in this project are expected to be readily applicable to upcycling other biomass materials as well as plastic wastes to promote greater global sustainability. Supervisor Qi Dong Mentor Qi Dong Type of work required Expected contributions to the project include, but are not limited to: materials and chemical characterization, reactor design, assembly and operation, product analysis, system and process optimization. Websites Qualifications Background and education in all areas of chemistry and materials science are welcome to apply. Strong interest in sustainability and/or energy research is highly desirable. Credit Hours 3 Weekly Hours 9 (estimated)