The process uses thermochemical hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to transform food waste into biocrude oil. Impurities are eliminated from the biocrude, then hydrogen and catalysts further refine the product into aviation fuel.
This technique can be applied to many feedstocks and oil types, offering new possibilities for fuel sources. "HTL basically mimics the natural formation of crude oil in the Earth. It uses high heat and pressure to convert wet biomass into a biocrude oil. The goal of this work is to upgrade that biocrude oil into transportation fuels that can go directly into existing energy infrastructure," said lead author Sabrina Summers, who recently graduated with a doctoral degree from the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Illinois.
The study utilized waste from a nearby food processing plant. Globally, over 30% of food is wasted yearly in the supply chain, and landfill decomposition releases greenhouse gases. Recycling food waste enhances sustainability.
HTL can handle a wide spectrum of biowaste, including sewage sludge, algal bloom, swine manure, and agricultural residue. "To meet the aviation industry's goals to decarbonate jet fuel, we need many different renewable sources, and agriculture is going to play a critical role in terms of providing the feedstocks," said ABE professor and corresponding author Yuanhui Zhang.
The researchers first removed moisture, ash, and salt from biocrude oil. They then used catalytic hydrotreating to remove nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, leaving only hydrocarbons needed for fuel. Through catalyst testing, cobalt molybdenum was chosen as most effective for SAF production.
They optimized hydrotreatment by adjusting temperature, catalyst and hydrogen loads, and retention time. Their SAF passed American Society for Testing and Materials and Federal Aviation Administration standards for conventional jet fuel, without additives or fossil blends.
The technology is ready to advance to commercial scale. "Our research helps solve the science and engineering problems, and then the industry can step in. The process can be applied to other types of oils for SAF. It can also replace other materials, such as petroleum-derived compounds for making plastics. This has huge potential for business opportunities and economic development," Zhang said.
Zhang's index for measuring circular bioeconomy indicates SAF's substantial contribution. "In a linear economy, we just produce something, use it, and throw it away. In this project, we take the waste and recover the energy and materials to make a usable product. This fills a missing link in the circular paradigm," he said.
Research Report:From food waste to sustainable aviation fuel: cobalt molybdenum catalysis of pretreated hydrothermal liquefaction biocrude
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