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China Eastern tests flight using biofuel

Waste cooking oil is dubbed gutter oil in China, as illicit oil producers have recycled waste oil collected from gutters behind restaurants. The oil, which contains carcinogenic substances, is harmful to human health.

The test flight opened up the possibility of using other types of biofuel, including those made from recycled gutter oil, for aviation purposes, said Zhao Xuebing, a lecturer specializing in bio-energy research at Tsinghua University.

But Zhao cast doubt on the commercial viability of biofuel for use in jets because the treatment process of producing biofuel will push the cost up higher than regular fuel refinery.

"I do not see biofuel being used widely in commercial flights in the next decade," Zhao said.

In October 2011, Air China became the nation's first carrier to test a flight partly powered by biofuel, the outcome of a collaboration between PetroChina and Honeywell UOP's Green Jet Fuel.

Honeywell has licensed its green diesel production technology to four producers in the US and Europe.

The first of those facilities is expected to begin producing fuel in May, the US-based conglomerate told China Daily.

Although bio feedstock is more expensive than oil, Honeywell expects costs to come down as investments are made to produce larger quantities of bio feedstock and the company achieves economies of scale.