UOP licenses 'green' diesel production technology to US transport fuels firm
Honeywell’s UOP has agreed to license technology to Emerald Biofuels to produce the company’s Green Diesel at a facility in Louisiana.
Emerald will use Honeywell's UOP/Eni Ecofining process technology to produce 85 million gal/year of Green Diesel from non-edible, second-generation oils and animal fats, project officials said.
Unlike biodiesel, the green diesel is a drop-in replacement for traditional diesel.
Chemically identical to petroleum-based diesel, Honeywell’s Green Diesel can be used in any proportion in existing fuel tanks without infrastructure changes, UOP says.
Emerald is an Illinois-based transportation fuel company that builds renewable diesel refineries that produce environmentally-friendly transportation fuels at prices competitive to petroleum-based fuels.
International Alliance Group (IAG) will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for the project.
"We are very pleased to work with Emerald in its efforts to advance the production of biofuels through this breakthrough project in the US," said Jim Rekoske, vice president and general manager of Honeywell's UOP renewable energy and chemicals business unit.
"We are proud to offer a technology solution that supports diesel production, while lessening the environmental impact of fuel production through the use of alternative feedstocks and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."
UOP and Eni jointly developed the UOP/Eni Ecofining process, which uses hydroprocessing technology to convert non-edible natural oils and animal fats to Green Diesel.
The fuel offers improved performance over biodiesel and petroleum-based diesel, including a high cetane value of 80 compared with a cetane range of 40 to 60 found in diesel at the pump today, according to the company.
Cetane value is the measure of the combustion quality of diesel. Higher cetane values help diesel engines operate more effectively.
Green diesel offers high energy density, excellent performance at cold or warm temperatures, and features up to an 80% lifecycle reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with diesel from petroleum, the company says.
The product also offers value as a blending stock for refiners seeking to enhance existing diesel and to expand the diesel pool.
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