Methane emissions from landfill could be turned into sustainable jet fuel in plasma chemistry leap
Methane wells.
Image: Luisa Low, University of SydneyIn a world first, University of Sydney researchers have developed a chemical process using plasma that could create sustainable jet fuel from methane gas emitted from landfills, potentially creating a low-carbon aviation industry.
Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO 2 ).
According to the International Energy Agency, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is currently around two-and-a-half times greater than pre-industrial levels and is increasing steadily, with waste emissions and the burning of fossil fuels accounting for a significant proportion.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Methane wells. Image: Luisa Low, University of Sydney
In a world first, University of Sydney researchers have developed a chemical process using plasma that could create sustainable jet fuel from methane gas emitted from landfills, potentially creating a low-carbon aviation industry.
Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the International Energy Agency, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is currently around two-and-a-half times greater than pre-industrial levels and is increasing steadily, with waste emissions and the burning of fossil fuels accounting for a significant proportion.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
