What plant capacities are available for a SAF production line?

The modular process package scales from small demonstration lines to mid-size production plants and large industrial refineries, delivered with process design, equipment selection, catalysts, automation, commissioning and start-up, operator training and maintenance support.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Waste Palm Oil (HEFA-SPK)

Q: Which standard does the finished SAF meet and how is it blended?

The finished fuel meets ASTM D7566 Annex A2 (HEFA-SPK) and can be blended at any compliant ratio with petroleum-based Jet A-1 without modifying aircraft or airport fuel supply systems.

Q: What is the SAF yield from waste palm oil?

Overall feed conversion is at least 95% and the aviation kerosene (jet) fraction yield is 40–48%, adjustable through temperature, pressure and hydrogen-to-oil ratio. Premium biodiesel, naphtha and LPG are recovered as co-products.

Q: Can high-acid PFAD be processed without esterification?

Yes. The tailored PFAD pretreatment route — melting and filtration, phosphoric acid degumming, deep vacuum dehydration, and combined bleaching-earth/activated-carbon adsorption — accepts feed with free fatty acid content up to 90%, with no pre-esterification and no methanol.

Q: Which low-carbon certifications can a waste-palm-oil SAF project obtain?

Because the feedstock is 100% waste-based with no food–fuel competition and no deforestation exposure, projects can pursue ISCC, CORSIA and RED certification.

Solutions

Complete HEFA-SPK Process Solution

This process uses waste oils and fats from across the palm industry chain as feedstock. Three main renewable streams are accepted: palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), a by-product of palm oil refining; skimming oil recovered from palm oil mill effluent (POME); and used cooking palm oil (UCO). Through staged pretreatment, hydrodeoxygenation, hydroisomerization and precision fractionation, these low-value waste oils are converted into high-quality synthetic paraffinic kerosene (HEFA-SPK).

No esterification step is involved and no methanol is consumed. The line tolerates industrial waste palm oils with high acid value, heavy impurities and high water content.

The finished fuel meets ASTM D7566 and fits the standard blending rules for civil aviation aircraft. Premium biodiesel, naphtha and LPG are recovered at the same time as by-products.

HEFA-SPK sustainable aviation fuel production plant with distillation columns and pipe racks

≥95%

Overall feed conversion

40–48%

Jet fraction yield

C8–C16

Jet fuel carbon range

Waste palm feedstocks accepted

Key Process Data at a Glance

Technical parameters of the HEFA-SPK process from waste palm oils
Technology route	HEFA hydroprocessing: hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) + hydroisomerization + precision fractionation
Accepted feedstocks	PFAD (palm fatty acid distillate), POME skimming oil, UCO (used cooking palm oil) — waste streams only, no fresh palm oil
Esterification / methanol	Not required — fully hydrogenation route
Overall feed conversion	≥ 95%
SAF jet fraction yield	40%–48% (adjustable with biodiesel split)
Jet fuel carbon range	C8–C16 branched isoparaffins
Pretreated feed specification	Water ≤ 500 ppm · impurities ≤ 0.01% · metal ions ≤ 1 ppm · FFA accepted up to 90%
Product standard	ASTM D7566 Annex A2 (HEFA-SPK)
Blending	Drop-in with petroleum Jet A-1 at any compliant ratio; no aircraft or airport system modification
Co-products	Premium biodiesel, naphtha, LPG
Certifications supported	ISCC, CORSIA, RED
Plant scale	Modular, from demonstration line to industrial refinery

Feedstock Range

The process accepts every waste oil stream from the palm chain. It does not depend on fresh palm oil, which keeps it in line with the low-carbon traceability rules applied to sustainable aviation fuel.

PFAD

Palm Fatty Acid Distillate

The main by-product of palm oil refining. It has a very high acid value, stable supply and low cost, and serves as the primary industrial feedstock for SAF.

POME

Palm Mill Effluent Skimming Oil

Crude oil recovered from palm milling wastewater. As a pure industrial waste stream, it carries the best low-carbon profile and a clear carbon-reduction benefit.

UCO

Used Cooking Palm Oil

Waste palm oil from catering and food processing. Its impurities are manageable and its quality is steady, which suits large-scale continuous production.

Overall Process Flow

A compact, fully hydroprocessing route — no esterification, no methanol — from waste oil intake to finished, blend-ready SAF.

STEP 01
Feedstock receiving
STEP 02
Staged pretreatment
STEP 03
Refined feed buffer
STEP 04
Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO)
STEP 05
Hydroisomerization & upgrading
STEP 06
Product fractionation
STEP 07
Jet hydrofinishing
STEP 08
Finished SAF delivery

Process Units in Detail

Four integrated units take each waste palm stream from crude intake to certified synthetic kerosene.

Stainless steel tanks, filters and centrifuges in the palm waste oil pretreatment workshop

UNIT 01Staged Feed Pretreatment

Degumming · Dehydration · Adsorption cleanup

Waste palm oil arrives high in water, gums, free fatty acids and impurities, so each feed type follows a tailored pretreatment route. This addresses the problems that high-acid waste oil causes in conventional lines — coking and rapid catalyst deactivation — and brings every feed to hydrotreater specification.

PFAD · high-acid routeMelting & filtration → phosphoric acid degumming → deep vacuum dehydration → combined bleaching-earth / activated-carbon adsorption. No pre-esterification required; accepts feed with FFA up to 90%.

POME · high-water routeDemulsification & air flotation → three-phase centrifugal separation → acid cleaning → vacuum drying → precision filtration.

UCO routeResidue filtration → water washing & soap removal → vacuum drying → adsorption bleaching and cleanup. Compact, low equipment load, built for continuous mass production.

Hydrotreater feed specification after pretreatment

Water ≤ 500 ppm

Impurities ≤ 0.01%

Metal ions ≤ 1 ppm

Acid value under HDO control

Twin vertical hydrodeoxygenation HDO reactors with process piping, valves and steel platforms

UNIT 02Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO)

Core conversion · deoxygenation / decarboxylation / decarbonylation

This is the core conversion unit. The refined waste palm oil is mixed with high-purity hydrogen and passed over a dedicated acid-resistant hydrotreating catalyst. Deoxygenation, decarboxylation and decarbonylation reactions convert triglycerides and fatty acids into saturated normal paraffins, while oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus and metals are removed.

The unit runs steadily on the difficult feed conditions of waste palm oil and tolerates impurity swings well.

Overall feed conversion is ≥ 95%, with stable reaction and high conversion across all three feed types.

UNIT 03Hydroisomerization & Upgrading

Skeletal isomerization · controlled mild cracking · C8–C16 cut

The long-chain normal paraffins leaving the HDO unit have poor low-temperature flow and cannot meet the jet fuel freezing-point requirement. A molecular-sieve isomerization catalyst carries out skeletal isomerization together with mild, controlled cracking: long chains are rebuilt into branched isoparaffins and cut into the jet fuel carbon range.

Temperature, pressure and hydrogen-to-oil ratio are adjusted to shift the jet / biodiesel split and maximize SAF yield — jet fraction reaches 40%–48%.

Hydroisomerization catalyst vessel skid with instrument tubing, gauges and blue steel stairway

Precision fractionation distillation columns lit at dusk against a deep blue sky

UNIT 04Precision Fractionation & Finishing

Atmospheric distillation · polishing hydrogenation

The reacted hydrocarbon mixture enters the fractionation system, where atmospheric distillation makes the cuts precisely:

LIGHT ENDS

Naphtha · LPG

Sold externally or used on site for hydrogen production.

MAIN PRODUCT

SAF Bio-Jet

The premium SAF aviation kerosene fraction.

HEAVY ENDS

Biodiesel

A premium biodiesel fraction as value-added output.

The jet fraction then goes through polishing hydrogenation to remove trace olefins and aromatics and to set smoke point, flash point, freezing point and viscosity. The finished cut fully meets commercial aviation fuel requirements.

Finished Product Quality

HEFA-type bio-jet fuel that meets the standards accepted worldwide — deliverable and fuelable at airports without regional restriction.

Laboratory technician testing a clear SAF aviation fuel sample with distillation and chromatography equipment

ASTM D7566 · Annex A2 (HEFA-SPK)

The international standard for synthesized hydrocarbon aviation turbine fuel.

Drop-in blending with Jet A-1

Blends at any compliant ratio with petroleum-based Jet A-1. No aircraft modification and no airport fuel-system modification are required.

Key fuel properties

Excellent cold flowStable calorific valueUltra-low sulfurLow aromaticsClean combustionVery low coking

Core Technical Advantages

A waste-based HEFA line built for real industrial feed conditions, certification and long-run economics.

Broad feedstock compatibility

One line handles PFAD, POME and UCO — the full range of waste palm oils — and keeps running through feed quality swings.

Full low-carbon compliance

The feed is entirely waste-based, with no food–fuel competition and no deforestation exposure. ISCC, CORSIA and RED certification can be pursued without difficulty.

A proven industrial route

The line follows the mainstream HEFA hydroprocessing path used worldwide: mature technology, stable operation, high safety, no experimental-process risk.

Strong economics

Low-cost waste oils go in; high-value jet fuel is the main product, supported by naphtha, LPG and biodiesel by-product streams.

Wide scale range

Modular process-package design fits small demonstration lines, mid-size production plants and large industrial refineries alike.

Green and efficient

It adds no extra waste water, waste gas or solid-waste load, and by-product fuel can supply on-site hydrogen production to cut energy and operating cost.

Application Scenarios

Compliant blending and fueling for global passenger and cargo flights

Carbon-neutrality and emission-reduction compliance offsets for airlines

Green-fuel supply for airport fuel systems

International aviation carbon trading and green-energy export

Civil aircraft being refueled with sustainable aviation fuel by an airport fuel truck

Modular Process Package Supply

The process is supplied as a standardized technology package with modular delivery, from design to long-term operation support.

Full process design

Core equipment selection

Dedicated hydroprocessing catalyst systems

Automation & control system

Quality traceability system

Commissioning & start-up

Operator technical training

Operation & maintenance support

Built for new-energy companies, energy refineries, palm industry groups and green-energy investment projects anywhere in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions About SAF from Waste Palm Oils

Direct answers to the questions buyers, engineers and certification bodies ask most often — mirrored in the page's FAQ structured data.

What is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from in this process?

This HEFA route produces SAF from three waste palm oil streams: PFAD (palm fatty acid distillate), POME skimming oil recovered from palm mill wastewater, and UCO (used cooking palm oil). No fresh palm oil, esterification step or methanol is required.

What does HEFA-SPK mean?

HEFA-SPK stands for Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosine. Waste oils and fats are hydroprocessed into paraffinic kerosene approved for aviation use under ASTM D7566 Annex A2.

Which standard does the finished SAF meet, and how is it blended?

The finished fuel meets ASTM D7566 Annex A2 (HEFA-SPK) and blends at any compliant ratio with petroleum-based Jet A-1, with no aircraft or airport fuel-system modification.

What is the SAF yield from waste palm oil?

Overall feed conversion is at least 95%, and the jet fraction yield is 40%–48%, adjustable through temperature, pressure and hydrogen-to-oil ratio. Premium biodiesel, naphtha and LPG are recovered as co-products.

What are the main process steps?

Eight steps: feedstock receiving, staged pretreatment, refined feed buffer, hydrodeoxygenation (HDO), hydroisomerization and upgrading, product fractionation, jet hydrofinishing, and finished SAF delivery.

Can high-acid PFAD be processed without esterification?

Yes. The tailored PFAD route — melting/filtration, phosphoric acid degumming, deep vacuum dehydration, and bleaching-earth/activated-carbon adsorption — accepts FFA up to 90% with no pre-esterification and no methanol.

What plant capacities are available?

The modular package scales from small demonstration lines to mid-size plants and large industrial refineries, including design, equipment, catalysts, automation, commissioning, training and maintenance support.

Which low-carbon certifications are supported?

Because feedstock is 100% waste-based with no food–fuel competition and no deforestation exposure, projects can pursue ISCC, CORSIA and RED certification.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from Waste Palm Oils