Argonne successfully tests waste streams into SAF technology

Secondary treatment aerates the wastewater and adds 'activated sludge' -- a concotion of bacteria that digests organic material in the wastewater.
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have made a significant breakthrough through their novel technology, known as methane arrested anaerobic digestion (MAAD), to convert waste streams into SAF.
The MAAD process involves using a membrane-assisted bioreactor to convert high-strength organic wastewater, such as that from breweries and dairy farms, into volatile fatty acids. These acids can then be upgraded into SAF, a cleaner alternative to fossil-based jet fuel.
“This technology represents a major step forward in our efforts to decarbonize the aviation industry,” said Haoran Wu, an Argonne postdoctoral researcher. “By utilising waste streams as a feedstock, we can make SAF production more cost-effective and sustainable.”
Argonne’s research builds upon the goals outlined in the DOE’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, which aims to increase the production of SAF to three billion gallons by 2030. The goal is to produce enough fuel to meet 100% of commercial jet fuel demand by 2050.
The MAAD technology offers several advantages over traditional methods of producing SAF. First, it is more efficient in extracting volatile fatty acids from waste streams, leading to higher yields. Second, it can reduce the production of lactic acid, which can lower the carbon efficiency of the conversion process. Finally, the technology uses an electrochemical separation method to further enhance the production of volatile fatty acids.
Argonne’s scientists conducted a techno-economic and life cycle analysis of the MAAD process, comparing it to conventional jet fuel production. The results showed that the waste-to-SAF pathway significantly reduces carbon emissions while also expanding the range of feedstock materials that can be used.
The research team is now working to commercialize the MAAD technology and scale it up for widespread use. If successful, this breakthrough could play a critical role in reducing the aviation industry’s environmental impact.