Scientists have discovered an innovative way to convert wastewater into biofuel, potentially reducing airplane emissions by 70%. This breakthrough involves using wastewater from breweries and dairy farms to create sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), derived from volatile fatty acids. Currently, SAF makes up less than 1% of global aviation fuel, but with aviation responsible for 2.5% of worldwide carbon emissions, finding greener alternatives is crucial.

The process, developed by researchers at Argonne National Laboratory, uses methane-arrested anaerobic digestion (MAAD), a method where bacteria break down organic waste in wastewater, producing butyric and lactic acids. These acids can then be transformed into SAF. However, lactic acid production presented challenges, as it lowered the fuel’s carbon efficiency. To address this, the scientists developed an electrochemical separation technique to extract specific organic compounds from the wastewater, improving the process’s efficiency.

The team’s approach combines anaerobic digestion with an advanced membrane separation system, allowing for the efficient recovery of the necessary components for SAF production. This method has shown promise in creating microbial communities that produce a large amount of butyric acid, bringing the aviation industry closer to a more sustainable future.