Overview
- The University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign team detailed the proof-of-concept in Nature Communications, reporting successful lab-scale production.
- Food-processing scraps were converted into a biocrude by hydrothermal liquefaction, then purified and upgraded through catalytic hydrotreating.
- Cobalt–molybdenum was identified as the most effective commercially available catalyst for refining the biocrude into jet-range hydrocarbons.
- The resulting fuel met Tier Alpha and Beta prescreening against ASTM and FAA benchmarks without blending or special additives.
- Researchers describe potential climate and circular-waste benefits but note that scale-up, further testing, and investment are needed before certification and commercial use.