S-Oil to Produce Biojet Fuel Based on Microbial Raw Materials

S-OIL signed a business agreement with Yuil Biotech, a startup possessing microbial production technology, and the Korea University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation to realize 'K-SAF (Korean Sustainable Aviation Fuel)' throughout the entire bio-aviation fuel production process, aiming for 'Euglena-based Bio-Aviation Fuel Research and Development.' From the left in the photo, Cho Chang-ho, CEO of Yuil Biotech; Lee Dong-woo, Head of Chemical Technology Development Division at S-OIL; and Kwon Jeong-hwan, Director of the Korea University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by S-OIL

S-Oil is embarking on the production of biojet fuel using microorganisms as raw materials.

On the 20th, S-Oil announced that it signed a business agreement for 'Euglena-based Biojet Fuel Research and Development' with Uil Biotech and Korea University, aiming to realize 'K-SAF (Korean Sustainable Aviation Fuel)'. This tripartite industry-academia cooperation aims to reduce the domestic biojet fuel industry's dependence on overseas sources and secure self-production capabilities by actively sharing achievements throughout the entire process from raw materials to products. Uil Biotech is a technology-based startup established in 2022 as a joint venture with Korea University.

This joint development will produce sustainable aviation fuel by utilizing lipids extracted from the microalga Euglena as process raw materials. It is expected to significantly contribute to decarbonization in the aviation sector. Additionally, based on the joint development results, government-supported projects will be promoted to conduct research and development at a faster pace and on an expanded scale.

The core material of this industry-academia joint research and development, Euglena, is a bio-new material containing 59 types of nutrients and is also used as a material for food and pharmaceuticals. It is attracting attention as an excellent biojet fuel raw material due to its high lipid productivity of 20-40% of dry weight and lipid composition with over 90% suitability for biojet fuel.

Uil Biotech operates a pilot plant currently located in central Seoul, based on production technology that combines microbial production techniques and Euglena strain technology to mass-produce Euglena simultaneously with photosynthesis. Recently, it succeeded in converting Euglena lipids to kerosene, the stage just before biojet fuel, and announced research results that are closest to commercialization among domestic biojet fuel R&D using microalgae raw materials, leading the related field.

In particular, the industry is highly interested in the fact that, based on Euglena extraction and processing technology, profitability has been secured through paramylon, a high-value immune-activating substance, and by utilizing lipids produced as by-products in this process for biofuel production, overcoming the cost limitations and creating commercially viable microbial raw materials.

An S-Oil official said, "Starting from this business agreement, we plan to continuously conduct joint research and development with Uil Biotech on sustainable aviation fuel production, physical property analysis, and performance testing," adding, "We will strive to supply biofuels and resource circulation products that can contribute to building a resource circulation structure in response to the global decarbonization trend."

Professor Choi Yoon-yi of the Department of Environmental Ecology Engineering at Korea University stated, "Euglena is a microalga capable of reducing carbon dioxide even under high concentrations of CO2, making it a bio-new material that can greatly contribute to carbon neutrality and is expected to significantly impact related industries in the future."

Jo Chang-ho, CEO of Uil Biotech, said, "This MOU for biojet fuel research and development with S-Oil and Korea University is expected to accelerate the Euglena biojet fuel business in connection with the demonstration collaboration with domestic airlines previously signed," and added, "We plan to secure a more systematic mass production process by referring to the equipment and operational know-how of large-scale plants owned by S-Oil."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.