BRIN and KIST Boost Bioavtur Efficiency via Biomassa Innovation
- 23 Jul 2026 18:36 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- BRIN and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed an SBA-15-based catalyst that significantly improves the efficiency of producing sustainable aviation fuel (bioavtur) from nonfood biomass.
- The catalyst converts up to 99% of biomass feedstock into bioavtur precursors, while the final conversion to aviation-fuel-range hydrocarbons reaches 100% under optimized conditions.
RRI.CO.ID, South Tangerang - The Indonesia’s National Innovation and Research Agency (BRIN), in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), has developed an SBA‑15‑based catalytic material that significantly increases the efficiency of producing bioavtur (sustainable aviation fuel) from nonfood biomass.
The innovation can convert feedstock waste up to 99 percent, marking a strategic step in supporting sustainable aviation fuels and Indonesia’s net‑zero emissions goals.
Senior Researcher at BRIN’s Catalysis Research Center, Indriyati, said the aviation sector remains one of the world’s largest sources of carbon emissions. With rising demand for air transport, developing sustainable aviation fuels is necessary to reduce carbon output.
To date, bioavtur has typically been produced from vegetable oils, but those feedstocks compete with food needs and are therefore considered less sustainable. For that reason, Indriyati and her team developed second‑generation bioavtur using nonfood biomass such as agricultural, forestry, and plantation residues that are abundant in Indonesia.
“That nonfood biomass is first converted into intermediate compounds that are then processed using a catalyst,” said Indriyati on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.
In this study, BRIN developed a mesoporous SBA‑15‑based catalyst that was modified by sulfation with ammonium sulfate. The material’s mesoporous structure supports catalytic reactions that convert biomass derivatives into energy‑dense hydrocarbons suitable as aviation fuel precursors.
“The collaboration produced a catalyst with a pore structure and acidity level that are well balanced, delivering better performance compared with previous materials,” she explained, as quoted on BRIN official website.
Indriyati added that the optimal catalyst design is not determined by highest acidity alone but by a balance among acidity, surface area, and accessibility to the mesoporous structure.
“That balance of characteristics is crucial for developing a catalyst for the hydroxyalkylation–alkylation (HAA) reaction. This reaction joins biomass‑derived compounds into longer‑chain carbon molecules that serve as bioavtur precursors,” she said.
Testing showed that after optimizing reaction temperature, catalyst loading, and feedstock ratios, feedstock conversion reached 99 percent, with bioavtur precursor yield of 62 percent. The next stage converts those precursors into hydrocarbons that meet aviation fuel specifications.
That conversion step achieved up to 100 percent conversion, with most products falling within the hydrocarbon range suitable for aviation fuel. Besides high efficiency, the developed catalyst can be reused across multiple reaction cycles.
“Although there is a slight performance decline after repeated use, the material still shows good stability and has strong potential for industrial scale‑up,” she said.
According to Indriyati, the research opens new opportunities for developing higher‑quality biomass‑based bioavtur. In addition to delivering high conversion rates, the study enables production of longer‑chain carbon precursors, an important characteristic for aviation fuel manufacture.
“Going forward, BRIN will continue to improve catalyst materials to enhance stability, durability, and performance. Development will focus on refining pore structure, increasing catalyst resistance, and using feedstocks that support circular‑economy principles,” she said. ***
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