Virgin Atlantic flight crosses the ocean using fuel produced from waste carbon emissions through LanzaTech-PNNL technology

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Type of post: NEWS.

LanzaTech and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have shown the world that carbon can be recycled and used for commercial flight. On October 2, 2018, a Virgin Atlantic Airlines flight crossed the ocean from Orlando to London using a sustainable aviation fuel made through a groundbreaking alcohol-to-fuel technology.
Press release: PNNL and LanzaTech team to make new jet fuel, 2/10/2018.

The technology is based on the LanzaTech’s gas fermentation process, which valorizes waste carbon-rich gases to obtain ethanol. This alcohol is upgraded to an alcohol-to-jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK) through a catalytic process and a proprietary catalyst developed by PNNL. The catalyst removes oxygen from the ethanol in the form of water, and then combines the remaining hydrocarbon molecules to create chains large enough for producing jet fuel without aromatics.
Learn more about alcohol-to-fuel technologies: Alcohol-To-Fuel, 2/7/2018.

Video: Virgin Atlantic operates a flight using biofuel from LanzaTech (YouTube Channel of Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

LanzaTech has scaled up the technology and produced 4.000 gallons of ATJ-SPK at its Freedom Pines site (Georgia, USA). The fuel fulfils the specifications required for use in commercial aviation. Actually, based on a LanzaTech's Research Report, ASTM's International Committee has approved this year the ethanol-to-jet fuel pathway for aviation turbine fuel at up to a 50% blend ratio with petroleum-based jet fuel. LanzaTech is now preparing a design and engineering package for a  commercial-scale ATJ production facility at Freedom Pines.

Jennifer Holmgren (CEO of LanzaTech) said: "Thanks to collaborative efforts of our friends, partners and governments across both sides of the Atlantic, we are showing the world that carbon capture and utilization is ready today. Many people thought recycling waste carbon emissions into jet fuel wasn't possible. We have shown that waste carbon is an opportunity not a liability and that carbon can be reused to provide sustainable benefits for all. Together we can create the carbon future we need."

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