Researchers aim to convert waste cooking oil into jet fuel

BEIJING — Hangzhou Energy Engineering & Technology, Co., Ltd., (HEET), a company with experience developing alternative energy technologies, will conduct research on ways to convert discarded cooking oil into a component of sustainable aviation biofuel at the Boeing-COMAC Aviation Energy Conservation and Emissions Reductions Technology Center in Beijing, according to a press release.

The project aims to identify contaminants in waste cooking oil, which often is described in China as "gutter oil," and processes that may treat and clean it for use as jet fuel.

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The focus of the project for the first year will be to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving significant cost reduction in converting gutter oils and other waste oils into jet fuel through improvement of conversion efficiency and associated technology.

The Boeing-COMAC technology center is working with China-based universities and research institutions to expand knowledge in areas such as sustainable aviation biofuels and air traffic management that improve commercial aviation''s efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Funded by both companies, the center opened in August at COMAC''s new Beijing Aeronautical Science and Technology Research Institute (BASTRI).

"As one of the member organizations of COMAC, BASTRI was built for carrying out civil aviation industry research and we aim at expanding knowledge in sustainable aviation biofuels and carbon emissions reduction," said Qin Fuguang, president of BASTRI, COMAC. "China is the world''s fastest growing aviation market and the biggest consumer of cooking oil. There''s great potential for converting the waste cooking oil into sustainable aviation fuel. It''s a good opportunity for Boeing, HEET and COMAC to work together and make efforts to protect the environment."