Biofuel Resource Center

Fuel Processing Methods

Boeing and its partners are focusing on advancing the processing methods in Quadrant 1.

Method A: New high-efficiency hydrotreating combined with low-temperature hydrocracking

This method, which can be used with a wide variety of feedstocks, creates exactly the same core molecules found in petroleum jet fuel but uses significantly less energy than is needed to convert petroleum into jet fuel. This lessens carbon emissions in the production process, compared to current petroleum production methods.

High-efficiency hydrotreating combined with low-temperature hydrocracking is a superior processing method because of its low-cost, high-efficiency processing and high-quality fuels and flexibility with multiple feedstocks.

Overall commercial viability: High
Fuel quality: High
Scalability: High
Feedstock flexibility: High
Production/capital costs: Low
Carbon footprint: Low

Method B: New high-efficiency hydrotreating

This method creates a close analogue to petroleum jet fuel but uses significantly less energy than is needed to convert petroleum into jet fuel. This lessens carbon emissions in the production process, compared to current petroleum production methods.

However, this method is less flexible in its ability to work with a wide variety of feedstocks as a standalone process.

Overall commercial viability: Moderate
Fuel quality: Moderate
Scalability: High
Feedstock flexibility: Low
Production/capital costs: Low
Carbon footprint: Low

Method C: Fischer-Tropsch

This method turns cellulose-based biomass into a close analogue to petroleum jet fuel but uses significantly more energy than is needed to convert petroleum into jet fuel. This increases carbon emissions in the production process, compared to current petroleum production methods. Carbon sequestration might reduce the impact, but sequestration technology is not yet proven.

This method is flexible in its ability to work with a wide variety of cellulose-based feedstocks. However, compared to other methods, it is less desirable because of its inefficiency.

Overall commercial viability: Moderate
Fuel quality: High
Scalability: High
Feedstock flexibility: High
Production/capital costs: Very high
Carbon footprint: High