The collection of used cooking oil, known by
acronyms such as UCO, UVO, WVO, WCO, such as used fryer oil, is
continually increasing.
This oil can be regenerated if separated from its
contaminants such as water and organic solid residues.
The oil is first decanted (sometimes simply left
in a tank overnight), then filtered (with coarse mesh), and finally
separated using a centrifuge.
The centrifuge separates the oil from the water
and solid residue in a single pass.
Following centrifugation, the oil can be converted
into a fuel (biodiesel) with the addition of ethanol and a
transesterification process.
When the amount of solids is greater and/or large
quantities of product need to be processed, such as in industrial
settings, it is also recommended to use a horizontal decanter before
the centrifuge to reduce the workload on the separator.
A separator is effective, continuous, and
self-cleaning.
Various small-scale plants are emerging worldwide
to turn waste materials into valuable products and help prevent these
used oils from being discarded into sewers, thus benefiting the
environment.