The UOP Ecofining process, developed in conjunction with Italian refiner Eni, uses catalytic hydroprocessing technology to convert natural oils and animal fats to green diesel fuel. The product, chemically indistinguishable from traditional diesel fuel, features a high cetane value, excellent cold-flow performance and reduced emissions over both biodiesel and petroleum-based diesel. Green diesel offers value as a blending stock for refiners seeking to enhance existing diesel fuels and expand the diesel pool.

The algal oil used to produce the green diesel was produced via Solazyme’s unique microbial fermentation process that allows algae to produce oil in standard fermentation facilities quickly, efficiently and at large scale.

UOP’s Ecofining technology converts this feedstock into a biofuel that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions while complying with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-975 specifications.

UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, a recognized global leader in process technology to convert petroleum feedstocks to fuels and chemicals, is developing a range of processes to produce green fuels from natural feedstocks. UOP launched its Renewable Energy & Chemicals business in late 2006. Since its introduction, UOP has commercialized the Ecofining process to produce green diesel fuel from biological feedstocks as well as a process to produce green jet fuel from second-generation, non-food sources. In 2008, UOP formed the joint venture Envergent Technologies LLC with Ensyn Corp. to offer pyrolysis technology for the production of renewable heat, power and transportation fuels. (Earlier post.)