Converting polyisoprene rubbers into bio-jet fuels via a cascade hydropyrolysis and vapor-phase hydrogenation process

•A cascade process was proposed to convert polyisoprene rubbers into bio-jet fuels.•A reaction temperature of 460 °C maximized limonene intermediate yield to 588.6 mg/g.•A 642.7 mg/g yield of C10 cycloalkane with 83.6% selectivity was achieved over Pt/C under 0.2 MPa H2.•There was a competitive reaction between limonene hydrogenation and limonene dehydrogenation.•Depolymerization mechanisms of polyisoprene in the cascade process were elucidated.