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From food waste to sustainable aviation fuel: cobalt molybdenum catalysis of pretreated hydrothermal liquefaction biocrude

Author

Listed:
  • Sabrina Summers

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Siyu Yang

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Buchun Si

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    China Agricultural University)

  • Zixin Wang

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Jamison Watson

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University of Maryland)

  • Siying Yu

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Zhibin Yang

    (Washington State University)

  • Harshal Kawale

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Joshua S. Heyne

    (Washington State University
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Yuanhui Zhang

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

Valorization of wet biowaste into sustainable aviation fuel presents a promising opportunity to decarbonize the aviation industry. While hydrothermal liquefaction of food waste produces high energy content biocrude oil, its complex composition introduces challenges for achieving drop-in fuel properties. This research demonstrates a pathway from food waste-derived biocrude to sustainable aviation fuel through single-stage hydrotreating using cobalt molybdenum catalyst. Hydrotreating parameters are screened via the Taguchi method and optimized via Response Surface Methodology. The fuel candidate meets American Society for Testing and Materials jet fuel properties without blending, including low sulfur limits, density, viscosity, flash point, and freeze point. Further, Circularity Index, the fraction of renewable and recovered resources, demonstrates that compared to conventional jet fuel, this pathway improves energy and carbon circularity by 31.1% and 17.0%, respectively. Additionally, this approach identifies future direction, including reaction and catalyst tuning for increased isomerization, to improve fuel properties.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabrina Summers & Siyu Yang & Buchun Si & Zixin Wang & Jamison Watson & Siying Yu & Zhibin Yang & Harshal Kawale & Joshua S. Heyne & Yuanhui Zhang, 2025. "From food waste to sustainable aviation fuel: cobalt molybdenum catalysis of pretreated hydrothermal liquefaction biocrude," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64645-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64645-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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