Abstract Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are considered a projected alternative to widely used petroleum-based fuels for reducing the environmental impact of aviation, including the potential mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and the reduction of particulate matter formation. While numerous studies have addressed feedstocks and production technologies of SAFs, comparatively limited attention has been given to experimental investigations associated with the second stage of the ASTM D4054 fuel certification process, which includes fuel atomization, ignition, combustion characteristics, and emission behavior under realistic engine operating conditions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent experimental studies devoted to these processes. Particular attention is given to the influence of physicochemical fuel properties, including volatility, viscosity, cetane number, and chemical composition, on atomization quality, ignition delay, flame stability, and combustion efficiency. The relationship between fuel molecular structure and soot formation tendencies is also examined. The analysis shows that the lower density, viscosity, and aromatic content typical of many SAF pathways generally improve atomization and evaporation processes, leading to more homogeneous fuel–air mixtures and reduced particulate matter emissions compared with conventional jet fuels. Overall, the review highlights the importance of integrating atomization and combustion studies into SAF development and certification, providing insights that can support the optimization of fuel formulations and contribute to the safe and efficient large-scale deployment of sustainable aviation fuels.
Abdelmagid et al. (Thu,) studied this question.