Cemvita successfully produces HEFA from waste carbon sources with eye on SAF

In Texas, Cemvita announced a significant breakthrough enabling the company to produce substantial quantities of its Sustainable Oil from waste carbon sources. This landmark achievement marks a pivotal step forward in the production of low-carbon intensity feedstocks for HEFA sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), representing a significant opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

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.