New microchannel reactor turns organic waste gas into jet fuel

Korean researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), in partnership with EN2CORE Technology, have developed a novel method to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by converting landfill gas derived from food waste and manure into liquid jet fuel. Their pilot facility, located at a landfill site in Daegu, demonstrated the production of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of SAF per day with over 75% liquid-fuel selectivity. This process involves collecting raw landfill gas, removing sulfur compounds and excess carbon dioxide, and then using a proprietary plasma reforming reactor to produce synthesis gas (syngas), a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen tailored for fuel synthesis. The syngas is then converted into liquid aviation fuel via the Fischer–Tropsch process using a specialized zeolite- and cobalt-based catalyst system that enhances selectivity for desirable hydrocarbon chains while minimizing solid byproducts like wax. A key innovation is the microchannel reactor design, which enables rapid heat dissipation