A chemical process using non-thermal plasma could contribute to a circular economy by converting methane emissions from landfill into sustainable jet fuel, according to new research.

As organic waste decomposes in landfills, it releases a great deal of CO2 and methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps 86 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2 over 20 years.

Emissions from unmanaged landfills are set to double by 2050 as urban populations grow, which could seriously affect global warming. Indeed, satellite data has revealed that 1,256 methane super-emitter events from landfills occurred between January 2019 and June 2023.

However, researchers at the University of Sydney have potentially found a use for all this methane gas in a chemical process that uses non-thermal plasma.

The process works by extracting and capturing methane from a landfill site in what is known as a methane well, which uses a shaft-like mechanism to extract gases.

The plasma, powered by electricity from...