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          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
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      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>


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    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000890447</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>Vertex Energy</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-11476</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>1331 Gemini Street, Suite 250</com:street1>
        <com:city>Houston</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>77058</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>713-486-4182</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>B&amp;S Cowart II Family, LP</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Affiliate of CEO &amp; Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Shares</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Securities America / Pershing, LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1331 Gemini Street, Suite 250</com:street1>
          <com:city>Houston</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>77058</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>399999</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>2763993.09</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>75934197</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>06/07/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Shares</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>04/16/2009</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Consideration or completion of a merger</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Vertex Energy, Inc.</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1313124</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>04/16/2009</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Subject company shares</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>B&amp;S Cowart II Family, LP</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3240 Bammel Ln</com:street1>
          <com:city>Houston</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>77098-2027</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock of Vertex Energy, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/02/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>66667</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>660804.40</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>B&amp;S Cowart II Family, LP</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3240 Bammel Ln</com:street1>
          <com:city>Houston</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>77098-2027</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock of Vertex Energy, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>04/11/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>66667</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>586303.63</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>B&amp;S Cowart II Family, LP</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3240 Bammel Ln</com:street1>
          <com:city>Houston</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>77098-2027</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock of Vertex Energy, Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>04/19/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>66666</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>527310.51</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>These shares will be sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 Sales Plan adopted on June 6, 2022</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>05/31/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Benjamin P. Cowart</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
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144
0001882017
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000890447
Vertex Energy
001-11476
1331 Gemini Street, Suite 250
Houston
TX
77058
713-486-4182
B&S Cowart II Family, LP
Affiliate of CEO & Director
Common Shares
Securities America / Pershing, LLC
1331 Gemini Street, Suite 250
Houston
TX
77058
399999
2763993.09
75934197
06/07/2023
NASDAQ
Common Shares
04/16/2009
Consideration or completion of a merger
Vertex Energy, Inc.
N
1313124
04/16/2009
Subject company shares
N
B&S Cowart II Family, LP
3240 Bammel Ln
Houston
TX
77098-2027
Common Stock of Vertex Energy, Inc.
03/02/2023
66667
660804.40
B&S Cowart II Family, LP
3240 Bammel Ln
Houston
TX
77098-2027
Common Stock of Vertex Energy, Inc.
04/11/2023
66667
586303.63
B&S Cowart II Family, LP
3240 Bammel Ln
Houston
TX
77098-2027
Common Stock of Vertex Energy, Inc.
04/19/2023
66666
527310.51
These shares will be sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 Sales Plan adopted on June 6, 2022
05/31/2023
Benjamin P. Cowart