Used cooking oil (UCO): from waste to biodiesel and HVO

Used cooking oil (UCO) is one of the best examples of the circular economy. A waste stream from restaurants and the food industry becomes a feedstock for renewable fuels, with a significant cut in emissions compared with fossil fuels.

From collection to refinery

UCO is collected from restaurants, industrial kitchens and factories, then filtered and settled to remove water and solids. Only then does it go to biofuel plants.

Biodiesel (FAME) and HVO: the difference

• Biodiesel (FAME): produced by transesterification, where triglycerides react with methanol to form methyl esters and glycerine. It is blended into diesel.
• HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil): produced by hydrotreating with hydrogen. The result is a paraffinic fuel chemically similar to fossil diesel that can be used at very high blend rates.

UCO is also a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made by the same route as HVO.

Why UCO is in such demand

In the European Union, the Renewable Energy Directive classifies UCO as a waste feedstock (Annex IX, Part B). This gives it high regulatory value and makes traceability essential.

Quality parameters

• Free fatty acids (FFA): affect the process and yield.
• MIU: moisture, impurities and unsaponifiable matter.
• Iodine value and fatty acid profile.
• Sulphur and phosphorus, especially relevant for hydrotreating.

Certification and traceability

Every UCO lot must come with sustainability documentation proving its origin and route from the collection point. ISCC certification is the most widely used for this and protects buyers against fraud risk.

Related feedstocks

Besides UCO, the industry uses low-acidity olein, fatty acids, food-waste oils and crude glycerine, all with uses in biodiesel, biogas or oleochemicals.

Frequently asked questions

Can UCO be used directly as fuel?

No. It must be converted into biodiesel or HVO to meet fuel standards.

Which certificate should I ask the supplier for?

A valid ISCC certification and the proof of sustainability for each delivery.

Talk to Zuria

We supply UCO, olein, fatty acids and glycerine with ISCC certification and batch-by-batch traceability. Explore our biofuels area or request a quote.