Environmental impact assessment of jet fuel production from eight feedstock options

Emerging biotechnological processes have paved ways to produce jet fuels from renewable feedstocks such as agricultural residues, microalgae; and other materials like plastic waste, wood waste and waste cooking oil. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been widely applied to comprehend the environmental sustainability of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels). However, most LCA applications of SAF or jet fuel focus solely on CO 2 emissions or GWP (Global Warming Potential). To fill the gaps associated with other environmental concerns, we performed a first-of-its-kind LCA investigation to estimate air emissions of jet fuel production pathways from eight feedstock options. Besides GWP, potential results of AP (Acidification Potential), EP (Eutrophication Potential), POCP (Photochemical Oxidation Potential) was evaluated. The LCA cradle-to-gate modelling approach begins with the following feedstocks of: i) natural gas (as base case), ii) plastic waste, iii) corn stover, iv) waste cooking oil, v) wood waste, vi) switchgrass, vii) microalgae, viii) captured CO 2 with green hydrogen (H 2 ); and ends at functional unit of 1 kg jet fuel. An integrated LCA-mathematical modelling approach was presented to formulate details of life cycle data generation, background calculations, and impact assessment generation.