JAL Tests Biofuel Made from Rice Oil Byproduct for Ground Equipment

Japan Airlines (JAL) is testing a biofuel made from rice oil production byproducts to power ground equipment at Yamagata Airport. The trial, which will run through May next year, aims to assess the reliability of biodiesel fuel in extreme weather conditions.

The biofuel is produced from rice bran fatty acids, a solid byproduct generated during rice oil manufacturing. It is refined into high-purity BDF using an ion exchange resin method developed by Tohoku University.

JAL already uses BDF made from used cooking oil at 23 airports across Japan, but as demand for used cooking oil rises, the airline is exploring alternative sources of biofuel.