The FAA award gets us one step closer to the commercialization of our jet fuel. The development and analysis accomplished under this award dovetails perfectly with our goals of meeting the jet fuel requirements as required by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

—Virent Founder and CTO Randy Cortright

Because the FAA award offers flexibility in terms of feedstock utilization, Virent intends to demonstrate its expertise in converting a variety of conventional sugars and lignocellulosic biomass to jet fuel under this program.

In addition to the FAA award, Virent has several other initiatives underway supporting catalytic conversion of plant sugars to jet fuel. In October the company released analytical results of its Air Force Research Laboratory jet fuel tests, indicating Virent’s renewable, synthetic jet fuel could likely be used at any ratio, up to 100%. (Earlier post.)

Synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) as approved by ASTM for use in aviation, can be blended in ratios up to 50%. To move to a more complete renewable jet fuel, however, the end product requires aromatics to meet density specs. (Earlier post.)

Virent is developing two jet fuel products: Renewable Paraffins and Naphthenes (RPN) consisting of C₉-C₁₆ paraffins and naphthenes and an Aromatic Renewable Jet Blendstock (ARJB) consisting of C₉—C₁₁ aromatics.

Virent’s BioForming platform is based on a combination of Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) technology with modified conventional catalytic processing. The BioForming process can produce normal and iso-paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics required for a fully renewable jet fuel by blending the RPN and ARJB products.

In September, Virent received its largest federal award to date, a $13.4 Million U.S. Department of Energy Award to support conversion of corn stover to jet fuel.

Virent’s strategic investors include Cargill, Shell and Honda.

Resources

• US Patent application Nº 20110257416: Synthesis Of Liquid Fuels And Chemicals From Oxygenated Hydrocarbons