Synthesis of branched alkane fuel from biomass-derived methyl-ketones via self-aldol condensation and hydrodeoxygenation

•This work provided a promising route for the synthesis of jet fuel range alkanes from renewable biomass.•500-MgAl-O catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity in the self-aldol condensation of MIBK.•The yield of MIBK condensation product (C12 oxygenate) was 70.3%.•The hydrodeoxygenation products were highly branched alkanes with low freezing-points (<−60 °C).