JFE Engineering Corporation has partnered with University of Toyama to develop a new catalyst aimed at improving the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a key solution for reducing emissions in the aviation sector, Market Screener reported.
The catalyst is used in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, a process that converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid fuels. By improving on earlier work led by Professor Noritatsu Tsubaki, the newly developed catalyst can achieve more than 50% yield of liquid hydrocarbons suitable for SAF production, significantly increasing efficiency.
In conventional methods, the output from Fischer–Tropsch synthesis requires an additional step known as hydrocracking to convert hydrocarbons into the required range for aviation fuel. This process leads to losses, keeping overall SAF yield at around 25%.
The new catalyst removes the need for hydrocracking and reduces the requirement for additional hydrogen, lowering both production losses and capital costs. As a result, SAF output can more than double compared to existing processes.
Currently, used cooking oil is the primary feedstock for SAF production worldwide. However, limited supply is expected to drive a shift towards alternative sources such as biomass and municipal waste. In the longer term, synthetic fuels made from captured carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen are also expected to play a larger role.
The newly developed catalyst can be applied across these evolving feedstocks, supporting broader adoption of SAF technologies.
JFE Engineering and the University of Toyama said they will continue to advance the technology, aiming to support the aviation industry’s transition towards lower emissions.
