Innovative Pathways for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production: Leveraging Used Cooking Oil as High Potential Feedstocks

The aviation sector faces global pressure to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy. One evolving solution is the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), an environmentally friendly fuel compatible with conventional aviation infrastructure. Among various feedstock sources, used cooking oil (UCO) stands out as a promising option because it does not compete with food and supports the circular economy by utilizing waste. This article reviews various innovative approaches to converting UCO into SAF, focusing on the commercially proven HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology. This method allows for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil jet fuel. In addition to HEFA, alternative approaches such as Fischer–Tropsch and Alcohol-to-Jet are also being developed for the long term. Despite its great prospects, SAF production from UCO still faces several challenges. Limited collection infrastructure, uneven supply distribution across regions, and inconsistent policy support are major obstacles. From a policy perspective, initiatives like ReFuelEU Aviation in Europe and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the United States have provided incentives that encourage the adoption of waste-based SAF. Besides environmental benefits, the use of UCO for SAF also brings positive social impacts. Collection and processing activities create new jobs and reduce pollution from oil waste in urban areas. To encourage production scale, further breakthroughs are needed in conversion efficiency, reactor optimization, and the integration of SAF into existing refineries. Combining UCO with other biomass such as lignocellulosic waste or algae also opens up opportunities for feedstock expansion. With close collaboration between research, industry, and public policy, UCO-based SAF can become a long-term decarbonization solution for aviation while supporting the transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy. 8.2025-j-sawit-Innovative Pathways for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Download Journal