Technology From Honeywell's UOP To Be Used To Produce Renewable Diesel For U.S. Military

Emerald Biofuels LLC to produce renewable diesel under U.S. Department of Defense program

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Oct 01, 2014, 09:00 ET

DES PLAINES, Ill., Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- UOP LLC, a Honeywell (NYSE: HON) company, announced today that its advanced process technology will be used to produce renewable diesel for the U.S. military through the U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project.

Emerald Biofuels LLC will use Honeywell's UOP/Eni Ecofining™ process technology to refine non-edible oils and animal fats into renewable diesel, also known as Honeywell Green Diesel™, which is a drop-in replacement for conventional diesel derived from petroleum.

Emerald is being supported by a $70 million contract from the Defense department project, which is focused on creating economically viable production capacity for advanced drop-in biofuels, including feedstocks, refining, transportation and logistics. Emerald is expected to produce 85 million gallons of renewable diesel per year under the project.

"Our renewable process technology leverages UOP's 100 years of refining expertise to produce Honeywell Green Diesel, a drop-in diesel that, unlike biodiesel, is chemically identical to petroleum-derived diesel and does not require changes to engines or fuel infrastructure," said Veronica May, vice president and general manager of UOP's Renewable Energy and Chemicals business unit. "This proven technology is being used in commercial production today."

In 2012, UOP announced it signed an agreement to license Ecofining technology to Emerald to produce 85 million gallons per year of Honeywell Green Diesel at a facility on the Gulf Coast. Ecofining technology is also being used by Diamond Green Diesel in Norco, La., to produce renewable diesel from used cooking oil and other feedstocks.

The Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project is part of the Defense Production Act Title III Program. The program's mission is to create assured, affordable and economically viable production capabilities and capacities for items essential to national defense. Through the Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project, the government intends to form an Integrated Biofuels Production Enterprise (IBPE) comprised of partnerships capable of producing drop-in liquid transportation fuels targeted for military operational use.

UOP and Eni SpA jointly developed the Ecofining process, which uses hydroprocessing technology to convert non-edible natural oils and animal fats to Honeywell Green Diesel. Unlike biodiesel, Honeywell Green Diesel is a drop-in replacement for traditional diesel. The fuel offers improved performance over biodiesel and traditional diesel, including a higher cetane value than diesel found at the pump today. Cetane value is the measure of the combustion quality of diesel. Higher cetane values help diesel engines operate more effectively.

Honeywell Green Diesel offers high energy density, excellent performance at cold or warm temperatures, and features as much as an 80 percent lifecycle reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with diesel from petroleum. Honeywell Green Diesel offers value as a blending stock for refiners seeking to enhance existing diesel and to expand the diesel pool.

UOP LLC (www.uop.com) is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. and is part of Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions, a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

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SOURCE Honeywell