Characterisation of solid deposits from the thermal-oxidative degradation of jet fuel

A sample of a commercial aviation fuel, Jet A, was heated to 260° in a flow reactor over Stainless Steel 316 foils to create conditions similar to those that occur at the tip of fuel injectors in jet engines. The degradation of this predominantly aliphatic fuel under oxidative conditions deposited carbonaceous solids that consist of condensed polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Electron microscopy and diffraction analyses showed that the structure of these deposits is comparable to certain types of diesel soot. The formation of solids under oxidative conditions led to the incorporation of oxygen functional groups on the external and internal surface area of the deposits.