Boeing is working with Commercial Aircraft Corp of China to explore opportunities to refine waste cooking oil, often described in China as “gutter oil,” into sustainable aviation biofuel.
The project is the first for the newly-established Boeing-COMAC Technology Centre. The aim is to identify contaminants in “gutter oil” and processes that may treat and clean it for use as jet fuel.
China consumes approximately 29 million tons of cooking oil a year, while its aviation system uses 20 million tons of jet fuel. Finding ways to convert discarded “gutter oil” into jet fuel could enhance regional biofuel supplies and improve biofuel’s affordability.