INFORM April 2026

40 INFORM APRIL 2026 , VOL. 37, NO. 4

PHOTOTHERMAL SYNERGISTIC CONVERSION OF WASTE OILS TO SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS: A REVIEW Zhou, C., et al. , Applied Catalysis O: Open , 211, 207087, 2026. The intensifying energy crisis and environmental challenges are accelerating the energy transition. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), as clean renewable energy alternatives, have garnered significant attention in recent years. Among these, producing biojet fuel from waste oils represents a key pathway for resource utilization and carbon footprint reduction. Photothermal coupling catalytic technology, an emerging high-efficiency energy conversion strategy, captures photon energy via photocatalysts and integrates it with thermal energy. This enables chemical reactions under mild conditions (e.g., 150–300 °C, hydrogen pressure <2 MPa), offering a novel pathway for converting waste oils into biojet fuel. Pt-based catalysts play a central role in photocatalytic thermocatalytic coupling due to their outstanding hydrogen activation capability and catalytic performance. This paper systematically reviews research progress on Pt-based catalysts for photothermal coupling-catalyzed conversion of waste oils (including vegetable oils, animal fats, and microalgal oils) into biojet fuel. Through comparative analysis, we highlight the relationship between catalyst

design (e.g., Pt/TiO 2 -SAPO-11 composite systems), reaction pathways (decarboxylation/ hydrodeoxygenation), and product selectivity. Results demonstrate that PTC achieves 74–81% C 8 – C 16 alkane yields and >40% isomerization rates at 180 °C under 0.1 MPa H 2 . Life cycle assessment indicates GHG emissions reduced by 42% and energy consumption decreased by 38% compared to conventional HEFA pathways. Additionally, this paper addresses challenges in industrial-scale implementation (e.g., catalyst stability and reactor design) and provides outlooks on life cycle assessment and future development directions. CATALYTIC DEOXYGENATION OF OILS DERIVED FROM BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE AND SARDINE AND SQUID WASTES FOR RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE BIOJET FUEL PRODUCTION Silitonga, A.S., et al. , Fuel , 410, 137960, 2026. The development of sustainable drop-in aviation fuels from non-edible, waste based feedstocks is crucial for decarbonising the aviation industry. In this study, the catalytic deoxygenation of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae-, sardine waste-, and squid waste-derived oils was investigated using calcined dolomite–nickel oxide (DO–NiO) catalyst to produce renewable and sustainable biojet fuels. The fatty acid analysis revealed

that lauric acid (28.06 %), palmitic acid (20.19 %), and myristic acid (16.00 %) were the predominant constituents of the BSF larvae oil, while high volumes of behenic acid (C22:0, 26.67 %) and arachidic acid (C20:0, 38.12 %) were present in the sardine waste oil. Crude oil analysis showed that the BSF larvae, sardine waste, and squid waste oils had a kinematic viscosity of 35.693, 28.889, and 27.768 mm 2 /s, respectively, and an acid value of 9.97, 32.58, and 16.32 mg KOH/g, respectively. The iodine values indicated that the oils were suitable as a feedstock for the production of biojet fuels. Upgrading of the oils with DO–NiO catalyst significantly enhanced the quality of the fuels, which led to the high quality waste-derived biojet fuels with high flash points (up to 41 °C), and acidity below 0.1 mg KOH/g, which fulfilled the specifications defined by the ASTM D1655 standard. Upon blending with 10 % of Jet A-1 commercial aviation fuel, the density, kinematic viscosity, and calorific values of the resulting biojet fuel blends (BSFAV10, SAOAV10, SQAV10) were close to those specified for synthetic sustainable aviation fuels. These findings underscore the viability of waste oil valorisation via low-cost DO–NiO catalysis for the production of drop-in renewable biojet fuels, which aligned with circular economy principles and aviation sustainability goals.