- By:
- Trusty, Blake N; Wang, Peipei; Santosa, Daniel; Islam, Syed Z
- Journal Name:
- Chemical Engineering Science
- Page Number:
- 123462
- Volume:
- 325
- Publication Date:
- February 13, 2026
- View DOI Listing:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2026.123462
Abstract
Efficient, continuous routes for removing nitrogen-containing compounds from hydrothermal liquefaction-derived synthetic aviation fuel are needed to enable direct blending with conventional jet fuels. We report a simulated moving bed-inspired process for adsorptive denitrogenation of a model fuel. Unlike conventional simulated moving bed systems, which are designed for sharp separations between similar solutes, this approach was run deliberately outside the classical separation region so that both pyridine and indole were removed together from the hydrocarbon stream. Alcohol solvents were used to regenerate the silica adsorbent, maintaining performance over extended operation and avoiding the downtime and energy demand associated with calcination. Under these conditions, the system demonstrates removal of more than 98% of nitrogen while cutting solvent use by 28% compared to batch operation. Classical modeling tools predicted column concentration profiles even in this nontraditional regime, suggesting a straightforward path to scaling. Together, these results motivate solvent-efficient, continuous denitrogenation strategies that could be integrated with biorefinery processes.
