Honeywell, which is listed on Nasdaq, has announced an innovative ethanol-jet fuel (ETJ) processing technology that allows manufacturers to convert corn-based, cellulose-based or glycosyl ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Honeywell, which is listed on Nasdaq, has announced an innovative ethanol-jet fuel (ETJ) processing technology that allows manufacturers to convert corn-based, cellulose-based or glycosyl ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

A statement released by Honeywell said: “Depending on the type of ethanol feedstock used, the jet fuel produced by the Honeywell process can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% over the entire life cycle compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.” Demand for SAF continues to grow, but the aviation industry is challenged by limited supply of traditional SAF feedstocks, such as vegetable oil, animal fat and waste oil, the press release said. “Ethanol provides manufacturers with a widely available and economically viable feedstock. The ready now technology of Honeywell uses high-performance catalysts and thermal management capabilities to maximize production efficiency, resulting in a cost-effective and low carbon density aviation fuel.” The Ministry of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory reported that ethanol is converted to jet fuel compared to petroleum-based jet fuel, coupled with other technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCUS) and smart agricultural practices, could lead to negative greenhouse gas emissions. "Honewell has pioneered SAF production with its eco-purification technology, and our new ethanol jet fuel process builds on this original innovation to support the global aviation industry's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve SAF production goals through abundant raw materials such as ethanol," said Barry Glickman, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions. "Honeywell's ethanol injection process, when used as a standalone or in combination with Honeywell's carbon capture technology, is now ready to provide a way to reduce carbon intensity SAF."

uses Honeywells' technology and can be modular off-site, thereby reducing installation costs and speeding up speed, and it is reported that installation work is less labor-intensive than construction site construction. Petroleum refineries and transport fuel producers can also benefit from Honeywell's ETJ design, which aims to convert existing or idle facilities into SAF production plants, thereby maximizing the use of existing sites for SAF production to meet growing market demand.