Unifuel’s pilot demonstrates new SAF pathways

Universal Fuel Technologies (Unifuel) has completed a successful five-month pilot project to support Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production goals and increase feedstock availability. The campaign demonstrated the effectiveness and viability of the company’s Flexiforming technology in producing SAF that is chemically comparable to conventional jet fuel from various renewable feedstocks.
The project was conducted at the facilities of RPD Technologies in Crosby, Texas, from August through December of last year.
It produced nearly 100 litres of SAF sample material under stable process conditions, signalling readiness for the technology to scale up.
The campaign focused on converting methanol and ethanol to SAF and ethanol with paraffinic renewable naphtha made via Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) to SAF.
Samples of Unifuel’s Flexiforming SAF have been thoroughly tested and are now being analysed at Washington State University’s Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Lab for Tier 0 screening—the initial step of the SAF certification process.
“As an industry, it’s crucial that we continue to support and explore new technologies to advance SAF to match the functionality of petroleum-derived jet fuel,” said Joshua Heyne, director of the bioproducts, sciences and engineering lab (BSEL) at Washington State University.
“The capability to make aromatic molecules and process various feedstocks through a single technology platform not only streamlines SAF production but also significantly lowers production costs, making it more economically viable and accessible for producers and airlines.”