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The Technical Side
of Renewable Diesel
See how Valero produces renewable diesel.
1. Feedstock
Diamond Green Diesel receives feedstocks including primarily animal fat, used cooking oil and inedible corn oil.
Used cooking oil is gathered from restaurants, supermarkets and other foodservice establishments. Recycled animal fats are collected from animal agriculture and food industries.
Inedible corn oil is a byproduct of ethanol production.
Feedstocks can enter the plant through rail, truck or ships and barges.
2. Processing
The waste feedstocks are pretreated to remove metals and impurities and then hydrotreated with high-pressure hydrogen to remove oxygen. The next step is isomerization where cold flow properties are managed to ensure compatibility with existing infrastructure and engines. The final step is fractionation, the separation into finished products.
3. Distribution
Renewable diesel is stored until it is shipped to our customers primarily in low-carbon markets such as California, Canada and Europe. It can be transported via pipeline, ship or railcar.
The Science of Renewable Diesel
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What is Renewable Diesel?
Renewable diesel is chemically identical to traditional diesel, and can be used anywhere with existing engines, pipelines and other infrastructure.
Renewable diesel has an energy density value equivalent to ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), and meets the ASTM International's Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel (D-975).
Our low-carbon renewable diesel reduces up to 80% life cycle GHG emissions, compared with traditional diesel.
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How is Renewable Diesel Made?
Feedstocks such as used cooking oil, recycled animal fats and inedible corn oil are processed as follows:
- Pretreatment Unit to remove impurities
- Hydro-treatment using high pressure hydrogen to remove the oxygen (which is converted to water)
- Isomerization, a chemical process that changes the structure of the molecules without changing the number of atoms, enabling the fuel to be used in cold weather
- Fractionation, a chemical process to separate the liquid into finished products
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What Products are Used to Make Renewable Diesel?
Recycled animal fats are collected from supermarkets, butchers, meat processors and other foodservice establishments.
Used cooking oil comes from restaurants, supermarkets and other food service establishments. Inedible corn oil from ethanol plants.
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How is Renewable Diesel Distributed?
Renewable diesel can be distributed using existing petroleum logistics system.
Diamond Green Diesel (DGD)
Learn about our joint venture to produce and supply renewable diesel to low carbon markets.
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