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Hydrothermal processing is one of the technological options BETO is exploring. Prior investment under BETO's algae and conversion research and development platforms has aided efforts to accelerate this technology. Hydrothermal technology and associated processes can process a broad range of wet waste feedstocks, indicating that they will be used widely.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, for example, has successfully developed a diesel blendstock from urban sludge, and larger-scale pilot projects are currently underway. The hydrothermal research activities so far have just scratched the surface of the possibilities in this area. Supercritical water, as well as other high-temperature, high-pressure fluids like carbon dioxide, have interesting possibilities.