Researchers report a method for converting volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from food waste into sustainable aviation fuel that produces little soot and greenhouse gas emissions. The production of jet fuel from used grease and fats is limited by supply owing to competition with food grown for consumption. Further, jet fuel production from food waste requires an additional step that lowers yield, compared with renewable diesel production. Derek Vardon and colleagues report a method for converting VFAs from widely prevalent food waste into sustainable aviation fuel that produces relatively less soot and greenhouse gas. The authors explored the feasibility of using wet waste such as manure, sludge, and food scraps. Due to their water content, these wet wastes have conventionally been converted to methane. The authors recovered molecules from food waste undergoing fermentation. Using a heterogeneous catalyst, the authors converted the VFAs into paraffin, a combustible hydrocarbon used in aviation fuel. By altering the paraffin structure and blending to address viscosity and flashpoint constraints, the authors achieved a 70% blend, which produced 34% less soot than fossil jet fuel. According to the authors, lifecycle analysis revealed that diverting food waste from landfills into VFA production for sustainable aviation fuel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 165%, compared with conventional fossil jet fuels.
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Article #20-23008:
"Toward net-zero sustainable aviation fuel with wet waste-derived volatile fatty acids," by Nabila A. Huq, et al.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Derek R. Vardon,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Golden, CO;
tel: 720-582-1780;
email: <derek.vardon@nrel.gov>