The Green Journey of Black Waste: A Comprehensive Insight into Converting Waste Cooking Oil into Aviation Fuel

Second-generation biojet fuel: Currently dominated by waste cooking oil (commonly known as 'gutter oil') from the food service industry, enabling 'waste oil to fly.' China generates approximately 10 million tons of waste cooking oil annually—making it a vital feedstock for sustainable aviation kerosene. Third-generation biojet fuel: In the future, agricultural and forestry residues—such as straw and wood chips—are gradually entering the technological pipeline, further broadening feedstock diversity. II. Technical Pathways: Two Major Processes, Each with Distinct Strengths 1. Hydroprocessing: Under high temperature and high pressure, triglycerides in waste cooking oil are converted into paraffinic hydrocarbons whose chemical structure closely matches that of petroleum-based jet fuel. This enables direct blending into existing aviation fuel infrastructure without requiring engine or facility modifications. Hydroprocessing has become the mainstream industrial pathway for biojet fuel production. 2. Transesterification coupled with hydroprocessing: First, waste cooking oil undergoes transesterification to produce biodiesel; then, further hydroprocessing upgrades its cold-flow properties and energy density to meet stringent aviation fuel specifications. In 2022, China’s first industrial-scale 100,000-ton-per-year biojet fuel plant commenced operations—marking the transition of gutter oil from concept to reality in large-scale aviation applications. III. Application Landscape: A New Choice for Aviation Decarbonization Due to its high-altitude emissions profile, aviation is among the most challenging sectors globally for carbon reduction. Biojet fuel derived from waste cooking oil—offering both drop-in compatibility and substantial lifecycle carbon reduction—has emerged as a critical enabler of the industry’s green transformation. Compared to conventional jet fuel, it delivers over 50% lifecycle carbon emission reductions. It not only significantly lowers aviation’s carbon footprint but also alleviates environmental pressures associated with waste oil disposal. Globally, the EU, the U.S., and others have enacted legislation and introduced tax incentives to accelerate green fuel adoption, mandating airlines to progressively increase their sustainable fuel usage. Industry practice is advancing in parallel: numerous domestic and international carriers have completed test flights using biojet fuel and begun routine blending operations—gradually integrating the entire value chain—from collection and refining to refueling and flight. This means every properly recovered drop of waste cooking oil ceases to be an environmental burden—and instead becomes green power lifting aircraft into the sky, helping realize 'net-zero flights.'

Global Market Report on Catalysts for Converting Used Cooking Oil (UCO) into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), 2026

Markets in emerging countries—including China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East—are expected to become new growth engines, whereas the European market is projected to expand more moderately due to stable demand for light distillates. From a reaction mechanism perspective, catalysts for converting used cooking oil (UCO) into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) fall broadly into two categories: hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) catalysts, and hydrocracking/hydroisomerization catalysts. Hydrodeoxygenation is the dominant catalyst type, accounting for 72% of revenue share. Catalysts for converting UCO into SAF are used in SAF production for commercial aircraft, military aircraft, and other aircraft. According to report data, commercial aircraft account for 94% of demand for UCO-to-SAF catalysts. Producing SAF from UCO—as a renewable biological waste resource—holds enormous potential for promoting sustainable development in aviation. Although undoubtedly cleaner and less polluting than conventional fuels, SAF still faces certain drawbacks. Globally, SAF accounts for less than 1% of total aviation fuel consumption, and its cost remains substantially higher than that of conventional kerosene. Nonetheless, an increasing number of companies are investing in breakthrough technologies to convert diverse feedstocks into aviation fuel, and more airlines are betting on SAF—taking decisive steps toward net-zero emissions. The market is poised for rapid growth in the coming years. The regulatory landscape surrounding SAF is evolving swiftly, laying the foundation for exponential market expansion. Over the past six years, the number of legally binding policies supporting SAF development has surged—from just one between 2013 and 2017 to 22 in 2022. As more nations commit to net-zero emissions by 2050, low-carbon aviation has become a top priority in new policy frameworks and environmental strategies. This report focuses on analyzing the global market size of catalysts for converting UCO into SAF, along with major manufacturers’ market shares and rankings. Key metrics covered include catalyst production capacity, sales volume, revenue, pricing, market share, and rankings. Enterprise-level data primarily reflect the market sales performance of leading manufacturers over the past three years. At the regional level, the report analyzes market scale and trends across major producing and consuming regions over the past five years—and forecasts developments for the next five years. At the enterprise level, the report highlights representative companies—both internationally and domestically—that demonstrate leadership in scale and technology within the UCO-to-SAF catalyst market. It identifies national-level 'specialized, sophisticated, distinctive, and innovative' enterprises across relevant industries, offering deep insights—through a global lens—into competitive dynamics, current industry status, and future trends. Key companies covered in this UCO-to-SAF catalyst report include: Advanced Refining Technologies (ART), Albemarle, Shell Catalysts & Technologies, Topsoe, UOP, Axens, Sinopec, Bharat Petroleum, and Clariant. Additional target enterprises may be included upon client request.

Sasol Sells Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Used Cooking Oil to Antarctic Tour Operator

Sep 15, 2026

Sasol Ltd. has begun selling sustainable aviation fuel produced from used cooking oil to tour operator White Desert, marking a practical commercial step. The company aims to increase annual SAF production capacity to 100 million liters by 2030.

bloomberg

2026-09-15

Sasol Sells Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Used Cooking Oil to Antarctic Tour Operator

2026-10-05

South Africa’s Sasol Tops EM Peers on Oil-From-Coal Bonanza

Sasol Sells Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Used Cooking Oil to Antarctic Tour Operator

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