Disposable plastic cups could fuel jet planes according to U of I research

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) — New research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows that a material found in Solo cups and other disposable plastics could actually fuel jet planes.

With findings in this new study, Hong Lu, an associate researcher for science and engineering, said that he believes this could potentially replace petroleum, and lower carbon emissions.

"And the goal is that by 2030 (it) will produce 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation per year," said Lu.

The process starts at the waste landfill using A.I

"Coming in, we have cooperation with a private company, which is dedicated in sorting…they use A.I based technology to sort the type of plastic."

How it works is a bit complicated.

"We test for a product called benzene polystyrene, (becomes) styrene, (becomes) benzene. With this purified...it's a mixture. We purify it. And then we evaluate its property. And then we evaluate the property, we observe the properties to see if it satisfies the requirement of the jet fuel," said Lu.

The process could help the environment in multiple ways if done properly.

"If we can make a use of this polystyrene, one hand, we can produce a valuable chemicals that can be used in this have to reduce carbon emissions, right. To enhance the use of that. On the other hand with these reduced the amount of plastics goes into the airfield."

And this version of fuel is cheaper too!

"The additive …. Produce from waste plastic is comparable or I'll need a bit cheaper, maybe 10-20% cheaper than the one that produced from crude oil," said Lu.