The SAF Production Process
Our six-stage process transforms sustainable feedstocks into ASTM-certified aviation fuel ready for commercial flight.
Feedstock Collection
We source sustainable feedstocks including used cooking oil, animal fats, tall oil, and agricultural residues from certified suppliers worldwide.
Pre-Treatment
Raw feedstocks undergo degumming, bleaching, and filtration to remove impurities and prepare for the hydroprocessing stage.
Hydroprocessing (HEFA)
Feedstocks react with hydrogen at high temperature and pressure, removing oxygen and converting triglycerides into paraffinic hydrocarbons.
Isomerization & Fractionation
The hydrocarbon stream is isomerized to improve cold-flow properties, then fractionated to isolate the jet fuel range (C8-C16).
Quality Assurance
Every batch undergoes rigorous testing for ASTM D7566 compliance, including thermal stability, freeze point, and combustion characteristics.
Blending & Distribution
Certified SAF is blended up to 50% with conventional jet fuel and distributed directly to airport fueling infrastructure.
Feedstocks
Used Cooking Oil (UCO)
Collected from restaurants and food processors, diverting waste from landfills into clean fuel.
Animal Fats & Tallow
By-products from the meat processing industry converted into high-energy aviation fuel.
Algae
Fast-growing microalgae cultivated in non-arable land, offering high oil yields without competing for freshwater or food crops.
Technical Specifications
Full-scale commercial production capacity
Certifications
ASTM D7566
Standard specification for aviation turbine fuel containing synthesized hydrocarbons.
CORSIA Eligible
Certified under ICAO's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.
ISCC EU
International Sustainability & Carbon Certification for EU RED II compliance.
RSB Certified
Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials certification for social and environmental sustainability.
CSIR-IIP SAF Technology
Loop Fuels uses the indigenous SAF technology developed by CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun — India's premier petroleum research laboratory.
What is CSIR-IIP?
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research — Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) is India's leading research lab for petroleum and clean energy technologies, based in Dehradun.
CSIR-IIP developed India's first indigenous bio-jet fuel technology — a single-step catalytic process that converts waste oils and fats into aviation-grade fuel. This technology has been formally certified for use on Indian Air Force military aircraft.
Major partners include Airbus, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India — all collaborating with CSIR-IIP to scale SAF production in India.
1960
65+ years of petroleum research
Dehradun
Uttarakhand, India
50 kg/day
Feed processing capacity
10,000 L
For Indian Air Force testing
How the CSIR-IIP Process Works
Waste Oil Collection
Used cooking oil, non-edible plant oils (karanja, jatropha), animal fats, and algae-derived lipids are collected as feedstock.
Single-Step Catalysis
Feedstock undergoes CSIR-IIP's patented one-step catalytic hydroprocessing — converting triglycerides directly into jet-range hydrocarbons.
Purification
The output is refined and fractionated to isolate aviation-grade kerosene (C8-C16 range) meeting Jet A-1 specifications.
Blending & Delivery
SAF is blended up to 50% with conventional jet fuel (as per ASTM D7566) and delivered to airport fuel systems.
Why CSIR-IIP Technology?
Compared to 2-step processes from the US and Europe, CSIR-IIP's single-step approach offers clear advantages for Indian SAF production.
Lower Production Cost
Single-step catalysis eliminates an entire processing stage, reducing capital and operational costs compared to imported 2-step technologies.
Made in India
Indigenous patented technology — no foreign licensing fees. Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat and reduces dependence on imported fuel technology.
Military Certified
Formally approved by the Indian Air Force for use on military aircraft — the highest validation of fuel quality and reliability.
Flexible Feedstock
Processes a wide range of inputs — used cooking oil, jatropha, karanja, palm fatty acid distillates, and algae-derived lipids.
Drop-In Compatible
Produces fuel that is chemically identical to conventional jet fuel — works in existing engines and airport infrastructure with zero modifications.
CORSIA Compliant
Meets ICAO's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation — enabling Indian airlines to meet global emission targets.
Explore More
Discover how our technology powers sustainability and creates value beyond aviation fuel.