Engines
Standard Established for Airline Use of Aviation Biofuel
A revised specification issued by standards organization ASTM International establishes requirements for the use of biofuel blends in conventional jet fuel
Renewable feedstock used in producing aviation biofuel includes the camelina plant. (Photo: Sustainable Oils)
Renewable feedstock used in producing aviation biofuel includes the camelina plant. (Photo: Sustainable Oils)

A revised specification issued by standards organization ASTM International establishes requirements for the use of biofuel blends in conventional jet fuel, facilitating wider use of cleaner-burning “renewable” fuels made from plants.

Through new provisions of the standard, “up to 50 percent bio-derived synthetic blending components can be added to conventional jet fuel,” according to ASTM, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials. The synthetic components “are identical to hydrocarbons found in jet fuel” but come from feedstocks containing vegetable oil such as algae, camelina or jatropha, or from animal fats.