Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels from Plant Oils for Diesel and Gasoline

Abstract

The issues of global CO₂ emissions and depletion of non-renewable energy resources associated with fossil fuels encourage the use of plant oils (both edible and non-edible) as biofuel sources. This review summarizes the literature on renewable hydrocarbon fuel production, including feedstock choice, oil extraction, and production processes. Plant oils can be upgraded into hydrocarbon biofuels by catalytic cracking or deoxygenation reactions, such as hydrodeoxygenation, decarboxylation and decarbonylation. This review also covers current progress in renewable hydrocarbon fuel blending with fossil diesel or gasoline to meet the requirements of product quality for engine fuel applications.