CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. — Innovative minds at the University of Illinois are turning food waste into a sustainable form of jet fuel, a project that could provide a significant economic boost.

In a recent interview with WCIA 3’s Amanda Brennan, postdoctoral researcher Sabrina Summers and Professor Yuanhui Zhang shared insights into their groundbreaking work. They are utilizing a technique known as hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which essentially replicates the natural processes that form crude oil. This method enables the transformation of food waste into biocrude oil, which can subsequently be refined into various transportation fuels.