Air travel is booming, and that means jet fuel use is rising, adding to greenhouse gas emissions. But researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have found a promising solution: turning food waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Their new method could help the aviation sector reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as detailed in a recent Nature Communications study.
Here’s how it works: The team extracts biocrude oil from food waste using a method called hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). This process mimics how crude oil forms naturally, applying high heat and pressure to convert wet biomass into liquid fuel. Sabrina Summers, a leading researcher on the project, shares, “The goal is to transform this biocrude into fuels suitable for existing energy systems.”
The researchers used waste sourced from a local food processing facility. Shockingly, over 30% of food produced worldwide is wasted at various points, contributing significantly to climate issues. This food rotting in landfills creates harmful greenhouse gases. By recycling waste using HTL, we can promote sustainability.
HTL works with various organic waste, including sewage, algae, and agricultural leftovers. Professor Yuanhui Zhang emphasizes, “To achieve decarbonization in jet fuel, we need diverse renewable sources. Agriculture is key in providing feedstocks.”
After taking out impurities from the biocrude, the team then employed a technique called catalytic hydrotreating to refine the oil into usable fuel. They tested different catalysts, ultimately finding cobalt molybdenum to be the most effective.
The researchers carefully adjusted treatment conditions to perfect fuel production, testing their SAF against stringent American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Federal Aviation Administration standards. Impressively, their fuel passed all initial tests, proving it can stand on its own without fossil fuel blends.
Zhang believes this technology could easily scale for commercial use. He remarks, “Our research tackles the challenges, and then industry can take it forward. This process not only makes SAF but can also replace fossil fuel-based materials for products like plastics, opening doors to new business opportunities.”
In essence, this work fits into a broader vision of a circular economy. Traditional models produce waste without reusing materials. This project takes discarded resources, transforms them, and creates valuable products. It’s a crucial step in connecting the dots of a sustainable future.
For more on sustainable practices, you can explore this article about the index for circular bioeconomy developed by Zhang.
Reference: Summers, S., Yang, S., Si, B., et al. From food waste to sustainable aviation fuel: cobalt molybdenum catalysis of pretreated hydrothermal liquefaction biocrude. Nat Commun. 2025; 16(1):9570. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-64645-y.
