Washington State University (WSU) researchers have developed a technique to produce a form of aromatic kerosene directly from vegetable oils that, when blended with paraffinic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), can entirely supplement fossil-fuel-derived jet fuels.
SAF is touted as a way to lower emissions in the aviation sector in the short term – but it cannot be used on its own and needs to be mixed with regular jet fuel to act as a drop-in replacement. SAF is typically used to produce paraffinic fuels, while aircraft require aromatic molecules for proper performance.
Made from sustainable sources, including materials such as household waste or used cooking oil, SAF produces on average 70% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than using fossil jet fuel on a life-cycle basis. The technique, known as Hydrotreated Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), is responsible for approximately 80% of the world’s SAF production.
Using its newly-developed variant, the WSU team evaluated a blend of 16% SAF using a...