# Waste-derived biofuel research in Spain and Chile

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/waste-derived-biofuel-research-in-spain-and-chile
> Updated: 2026-07-26T14:07:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

Researchers at Spain’s Universitat Rovira i Virgili have refined their coffee‑ground oil extraction, using n‑hexane at 45 °C for one hour to recover roughly 90 % of the lipid content with only 0.3 % impurities—significantly cleaner than traditional Soxhlet methods. The process, described in *Biomass and Bioenergy*, operates with a low solvent‑to‑dry‑residue ratio and preserves the residual cellulose‑rich solids for further conversion into bio‑ethanol, lactic acid, biodegradable plastics or other fuels, reinforcing a scalable, lower‑energy pathway for turning the estimated 6 million tonnes of global coffee waste into biodiesel feedstock.

In parallel, Chile’s Energy Sustainability Agency and the Clean Flight programme have highlighted used cooking oil as a strategic feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. With an annual generation of about 128 000 tonnes of used cooking oil, the agency estimates that recycling 75 % of this waste by 2035 could produce roughly 99 million litres of renewable fuel each year—enough to power around 2.5 million airline passengers. Together, these studies illustrate expanding international interest in converting organic waste streams into high‑value biofuels and the potential for large‑scale circular‑economy solutions in hard‑to‑electrify transport sectors.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-26: Spanish University Develops Efficient Method to Extract Coffee Ground Oil for Biodiesel

Spanish researchers at URV reported a rapid hexane extraction that recovers ~90 % of oil from spent coffee grounds, producing cleaner biodiesel feedstock while preserving the residual biomass for other uses.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-university-develops-efficient-method-to-extract-coffee-ground-oil-for-biodiesel

### 2026-07-24: Spain and Chile boost waste‑derived biofuel research

Spain and Chile researchers develop processes to turn coffee grounds and used cooking oil into bio‑fuels, aiming to boost renewable diesel and aviation fuel production and decarbonise transport.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spain-and-chile-boost-wastederived-biofuel-research

### 2026-07-23: Coffee grounds identified as viable feedstock for biodiesel production

URV researchers proved coffee grounds can yield high‑quality biodiesel oil using a 45 °C, 60‑minute, n‑hexane process, recovering 90% of oil with minimal impurities and preserving the residual biomass for other

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/coffee-grounds-identified-as-viable-feedstock-for-biodiesel-production

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Cite as: Waste-derived biofuel research in Spain and Chile. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/waste-derived-biofuel-research-in-spain-and-chile