Turning Food Waste Into Jet Fuel for Sustainable Transportation – Technology Networks

Report on a Novel Process for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production from Food Waste

Introduction: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in Aviation

A recent study published in Nature Communications details a significant technological advancement in the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a process to convert discarded food waste into a high-quality jet fuel. This innovation directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on climate action, responsible consumption, and clean energy. The resulting SAF meets all current aviation standards without the need for blending with fossil fuels, presenting a viable pathway for the aviation industry to achieve its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050, a critical component of SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Process Overview: A Contribution to Industrial Innovation (SDG 9)

The methodology centers on a thermochemical process known as hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which transforms wet biomass into biocrude oil. This innovation in sustainable industrial processes is a key aspect of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The conversion process involves the following key stages:

1. Feedstock Collection: Discarded food waste is collected from processing facilities, addressing the challenge of urban and industrial waste management, which aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
2. Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL): The wet biomass is subjected to high temperatures and pressures, mimicking geological conditions to produce a biocrude oil.
3. Upgrading and Refining: The biocrude is then purified using hydrogen and catalysts to remove elements such as nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, resulting in a final product that is chemically equivalent to conventional jet fuel.

Direct Impact on Key Sustainable Development Goals

This research provides a multi-faceted solution that addresses several interconnected global challenges, with significant contributions to the following SDGs:

• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The process directly targets global food waste, a major environmental issue, by converting a waste stream into a high-value product. Globally, over 30% of food is wasted annually; this technology promotes a circular economy by upcycling this waste, substantially contributing to Target 12.3, which aims to halve food waste by 2030.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By creating a 100% sustainable, unblended aviation fuel, this development increases the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, specifically within the hard-to-abate transport sector.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The primary benefit is the decarbonization of commercial aviation, a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Converting food waste that would otherwise decompose in landfills and release methane further mitigates climate change.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The report notes the technology’s potential for broad application to other waste oils and its ability to replace petroleum-derived compounds in plastics. This versatility creates significant potential for new business opportunities and sustainable economic development.

Validation and Commercial Potential

The SAF produced through this method has successfully passed Tier Alpha and Beta prescreening tests mandated by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This validation confirms its suitability for use in existing aircraft engines without modification or blending. The research team indicates that the technology, while demonstrated at a lab scale, is designed for scalability, suggesting a clear path toward commercial production and widespread adoption. This scalability is crucial for making a meaningful impact on the sustainability of the aviation industry and advancing the aforementioned SDGs on a global scale.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article focuses on the development of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from food waste, which is a form of clean and renewable energy intended to replace conventional fossil-based jet fuel.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign represents a significant innovation in the aviation industry. It describes a new technological process (hydrothermal liquefaction) to create a more sustainable infrastructure for air travel.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The core of the innovation is the conversion of “discarded food” into a valuable product. The article explicitly states that “more than 30 percent of food is wasted each year,” and this process recycles that waste, promoting a circular economy and sustainable production patterns.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The primary motivation for developing SAF is to combat climate change. The article highlights that commercial aviation is a growing source of “global greenhouse gas emissions” and that this new fuel could help the industry meet its “net-zero carbon emissions by 2050” target.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

  The development of SAF from food waste directly contributes to this target by introducing a renewable energy source into the aviation sector, which is heavily reliant on fossil fuels.

• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.

  The article describes a new, clean technology for producing jet fuel. Its adoption by the aviation industry would represent a major retrofitting of the sector’s energy supply chain to make it more sustainable and reduce its climate impact.

• Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

  The article directly addresses this by using waste from a “food processing facility.” By creating a valuable use for discarded food, this technology provides an incentive to collect and repurpose food that would otherwise be wasted, contributing to the reduction of food waste in landfills.

• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

  The process of converting food waste into jet fuel is a clear example of recycling and reusing waste materials, turning a problem (waste disposal and emissions) into a solution (clean energy).

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

  The article mentions the aviation industry’s target of “net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.” This technology provides a viable pathway for the sector to achieve this strategic goal, which is a key climate change measure.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 7.2: Share of renewable energy in the aviation fuel mix.

  The article implies this indicator by presenting the SAF as an alternative that “meets all current industry standards without requiring blending with fossil fuels.” Progress can be measured by the percentage of total jet fuel consumption that is replaced by this or other SAFs.

• Indicator for Target 12.3: Amount of food waste repurposed.

  The article states that “more than 30 percent of food is wasted each year.” An implied indicator is the volume or percentage of this food waste that is diverted from landfills and converted into fuel, thereby measuring the reduction in waste.

• Indicator for Target 13.2: Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector.

  The article’s central theme is decarbonization to meet the “net-zero carbon emissions by 2050” goal. The key indicator for success would be the measured reduction in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from commercial aviation as a result of adopting this SAF.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: newsweek.com