World's First Demonstration of Rice Bran Oil-Derived Biodiesel Fuel for Airport Ground Support Vehicles Begins at Yamagata Airport

Japan Airlines (JAL), Showa Sangyo, Boso Oil & Fat, Phytochemical Products, and Tohoku University have announced the commencement of a demonstration project using biodiesel fuel (BDF) derived from rice oil production byproducts. The fuel will be used in JAL’s airport towing tractors at Yamagata Airport.

This BDF is produced by upcycling rice bran fatty acids—a non-edible byproduct of the rice oil manufacturing process—using the "Ion Exchange Resin Method" developed by Tohoku University. This marks the world’s first initiative to utilize BDF manufactured with this specific technology in an airport environment.

**Roles and Objectives** Yamagata Airport, located in a basin with significant seasonal temperature variations, provides an ideal environment for testing under diverse weather conditions. Its proximity to Tohoku University, the developer of the core technology, further facilitates the verification process.

As global demand for biofuels increases, securing diverse and stable raw material sources is critical for decarbonization. Through this demonstration, the five partners aim to promote the decarbonization of Yamagata Airport, establish a stable and sustainable supply chain for upcycled BDF, and work toward a carbon-neutral future through advanced technology originating from the Tohoku region.

**Implementation Overview** - Period: Scheduled from May 28, 2026, to the end of May 2027. - Location: Yamagata Airport. - Target Vehicle: One towing tractor (used for pulling cargo and baggage containers). - Key Evaluation Areas: 1. Driving performance under actual operational conditions. 2. Impact assessment on the vehicle engine and components. 3. Establishment of a stable BDF supply system.

*Note: The Ion Exchange Resin Method is a reaction-separation technology developed by Professor Naomi Kitagawa and Assistant Professor Kosuke Hiromori at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Engineering. It is expected to contribute to a resource-recycling society by enabling the use of various untapped oil resources.*