This paper discusses a new process technology developed by UOP and Eni S.p.A to produce green diesel from vegetable oil and illustrates the advantages this new technology can offer over other processing routes. This new process utilizes hydrodeoxygenation, decarboxylation and hydroisomerization reactions to produce a high quality diesel fuel from vegetable oil plus hydrogen at mild conditions.

The new process integrates well within petroleum refineries and the high quality green diesel product which is made from this process is readily blended with diesel fuel. Green diesel product has excellent cetane and is completely compatible with typical diesel fuels in contrast with biodiesel which has significant blending limitations.