Cemvita now producing sustainable oils for SAF from waste carbon sources
May 7, 2024
| Jim Lane
In Texas, Cemvita said it can now produce substantial quantities of its Sustainable Oil from waste carbon sources.
Cemvita’s optimized microorganisms are rich in oil and undergo a series of processing steps to extract it. Through applied research and innovation in bioprocess technology, this developed process has produced high-yield extraction of the oil from the 4,000-liter bioreactor the company operates in Houston. Early tests confirm that Cemvita’s Sustainable Oil is a drop-in replacement for palm oil in all its use cases.
The next step for Sustainable Oil will be the conversion into sustainable aviation fuel by partners in refining. The use of sustainable oil in SAF production targets a reduction of emissions of up to 80% over common jet fuel, with further applications in food, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals. Such an achievement opens up new avenues for sustainable fuel feedstock production. To ensure reliability, Cemvita will continue the process with the produced Sustainable Oil undergoing extensive characterization and product testing to ensure its performance and compatibility with existing aviation infrastructure.
“We simply do not have enough low-carbon intensity feedstock locally in the U.S. We import about five billion pounds a year from places as far away as Australia and China to meet demand,” said Moji Karimi, CEO of Cemvita. “Our biotechnology is delivering on its promise of a sustainable future. The benefits and applications are limitless, from avoiding the environmental impact of deforestation and providing sustainable fuels to food and cosmetic applications. We’ve turned waste into a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.”
Category: SAF
