A new technology has been developed that can convert wastewater into biofuel, reducing airplane emissions by 70% compared to conventional jet fuel, according to scientists. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) currently makes up less than 1% of the fuel used in the aviation industry, but there is a growing need for greener fuel solutions as 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions come from aviation.
Traditionally, mainstream aviation fuel options use oil, while alternative options have relied on fat or grease. However, scientists have introduced a new process that converts wastewater from breweries and dairy farms into volatile fatty acids, the key ingredients needed for SAF. This process, known as methane-arrested anaerobic digestion (MAAD), breaks down organic matter in wastewater using bacteria, converting it into butyric acid and lactic acid, which can then be further processed into SAF.
In a study published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, researchers outlined how they developed an electrochemical separation method to extract organic compounds from wastewater, allowing for the production of a large amount of butyric acid. This in-situ product recovery process, combined with anaerobic digestion, created durable microbial communities that significantly increased the production of butyric acid.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory are continuing to improve the sustainability of their findings and are exploring other materials from feedstock that could be used with this technology. The research efforts have been funded by the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, with the goal of commercializing the process and scaling it up to meet the demand for SAF in the commercial sector.
By significantly reducing greenhouse gases by 70%, the membrane-assisted in-situ product recovery process developed by the scientists at Argonne could have a major impact on combating climate change. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to a ripple effect across various ecosystems. By creating a low-carbon sustainable fuel for the aviation industry, researchers hope to eliminate the need for harmful fuels and contribute to the fight against climate change.
