An overview on the production of synthetic fuels from biogas

Biogas production from organic wastes and its subsequent conversion to sustainable drop-in fuels may be a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the carbon footprint of transportation. In this overview, biogas refining, refined biogas conversion to syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and syncrude upgrade to drop-in fuels are discussed with emphasis on sustainable aviation fuels, which are seen as mandatory to curb the impact of aviation emissions on climate change. In this pathway for next generation sustainable fuels, biogas refining must eliminate contaminants that are detrimental to reforming, catalytic reforming must be optimized to produce syngas with an acceptable H2/CO ratio, and Fischer-Tropsch catalysts with higher selectivity and productivity must be identified and optimized.