Partnership With Susteon Attracts Grant from Department of Energy

Outcome/Accomplishment

A partnership with Susteon - a company known for integrating industry, government, and academic research to develop decarbonization technologies – attracted a $5.6 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) under its GREENWELLS initiative, aimed at advancing the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), to the Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources (CISTAR), an NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (NSF ERC) based at Purdue University.

Impact/Benefits

The collaboration between CISTAR and Susteon exemplifies the transformative potential of ERCs in fostering academic-industry partnerships that pioneer solutions to critical environmental challenges. The breakthrough advancements in catalyst development and reactor design emerging from this partnership advance the production of sustainable aviation fuel and set new benchmarks in efficiency and adaptability. 

Explanation/Background

One CISTAR research group in the collaboration has helped design and advanced zeolite catalysts that significantly improve the production of sustainable aviation fuel. These new patented catalysts are designed to control oligomerization reactions, where light olefins are converted into heavier hydrocarbon liquids suitable for use as transportation fuels. 

Another CISTAR group is pioneering advancements in chemical reactor design. The team is reimagining these reactors by incorporating internal electrically heated elements. This innovation dramatically improves heat-transfer characteristics, resulting in more compact reactors with enhanced product yields. Susteon complements CISTAR by bringing technologies to expand the use of renewable power.

Image
Credit:
CISTAR

Location

West Lafayette, Indiana

e-mail

cistar@purdue.edu

Start Year

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and Sustainability Icon
Energy and Sustainability Icon

Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Core Partners

University of New Mexico, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Austin
Image
Credit:
CISTAR

Outcome/Accomplishment

A partnership with Susteon - a company known for integrating industry, government, and academic research to develop decarbonization technologies – attracted a $5.6 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) under its GREENWELLS initiative, aimed at advancing the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), to the Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources (CISTAR), an NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (NSF ERC) based at Purdue University.

Location

West Lafayette, Indiana

e-mail

cistar@purdue.edu

Start Year

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and Sustainability Icon
Energy and Sustainability Icon

Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure

Lead Institution

Purdue University

Core Partners

University of New Mexico, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Austin

Impact/benefits

The collaboration between CISTAR and Susteon exemplifies the transformative potential of ERCs in fostering academic-industry partnerships that pioneer solutions to critical environmental challenges. The breakthrough advancements in catalyst development and reactor design emerging from this partnership advance the production of sustainable aviation fuel and set new benchmarks in efficiency and adaptability. 

Explanation/Background

One CISTAR research group in the collaboration has helped design and advanced zeolite catalysts that significantly improve the production of sustainable aviation fuel. These new patented catalysts are designed to control oligomerization reactions, where light olefins are converted into heavier hydrocarbon liquids suitable for use as transportation fuels. 

Another CISTAR group is pioneering advancements in chemical reactor design. The team is reimagining these reactors by incorporating internal electrically heated elements. This innovation dramatically improves heat-transfer characteristics, resulting in more compact reactors with enhanced product yields. Susteon complements CISTAR by bringing technologies to expand the use of renewable power.