Illinois study finds new way to make sustainable aviation fuel
The aviation sector produces a large share of global greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce this impact, researchers are working on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A research team led by Yuanhui Zhang at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign has developed a new way to produce jet fuel from food waste.
The study, published in Nature Sustainability, explained how this fuel can be produced and evaluated for cost and performance. The method uses hydrothermal liquefaction, or HTL, to convert food waste into crude oil. This process copied how natural crude oil forms but does so much faster. The crude oil is then refined into jet fuel.
“However, here we use a simpler approach with less catalytic intensity and greater focus on distillation, which is commonly used for industrial purposes. This is a more economical and environmentally friendly method. But the quality of the fuel is not as good, and it needs to be mixed with regular jet fuel,” said Zhang.
The team tested the fuel to ensure it meets industry standards set by aviation authorities. Results showed that it can work when mixed with regular fuel. Tests used a 50% blend, and researchers believe lower blends such as 10% to 20% will also be effective.
Currently, the project is on a small scale. The lab can produce small amounts of upgraded fuel, enough for engine testing. Future work will focus on testing fuel in jet engines and scaling production.
One major challenge is collecting and transporting food waste. Much of this waste ends up in landfills or treatment plants. Gathering it for fuel production requires better systems. However, the HTL process allows even treated wastewater to be used.
The process also creates a byproduct called HTL aqueous phase, which contains harmful substances. Researchers are working on treating this waste using electrochemical methods to recover useful materials.
Economic analysis showed that current treatment methods increase costs. However, future improvements may reduce these costs. The study also found that this process could lower carbon emissions and even achieve negative emissions.
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