Boeing, China to turn 'gutter oil' into biofuel

Beijing: Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) Wednesday opened a demonstration facility that will turn waste cooking oil or "gutter oil," into sustainable aviation biofuel.

Boeing and COMAC are sponsoring the China-US Aviation Biofuel Pilot Project, using technology developed by Hangzhou Energy & Engineering Technology Co Ltd to clean contaminants from waste oils and convert it into jet fuel at a rate of 650 litres (160 gallons) per day, a statement of Boeing said.

The two companies estimate that 1.8 billion litres of biofuel could be made annually from used cooking oil in China.

"Strong and continuing teamwork between Boeing and COMAC is helping our industry make progress on environmental challenges that no single company or country can solve alone," said Ian Thomas, president of Boeing China.

Sustainably produced biofuel, which reduces carbon emissions by 50 to 80 per cent compared to petroleum through its life cycle, is expected to play a key role in supporting aviation's growth while meeting environmental goals, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.