Article

A review of advanced techniques in hydrotreated vegetable oils production and life cycle analysis

Biomass & Bioenergy

Diogo Melo Gomes; Rui Costa Neto; Cristina Borges Correia — 2025 — Biomass and Bioenergy

Key information

Authors:

Diogo Melo Gomes (Diogo Melo Gomes); Rui Costa Neto (Rui Pedro da Costa Neto (Rui Costa Neto)); Patrícia Baptista (Patrícia De Carvalho Baptista); Cristina Borges Correia (Cristina Sofia Rebelo Borges Correia)

Published in

February 8, 2025

Abstract

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO) are gaining prominence due to their low carbon dioxide emissions and compatibility with existing internal combustion engines. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of HVO production processes, emphasizing advanced hydrotreating techniques, the types of raw materials utilized, and the challenges inherent to each method. Additionally, this work reviews the life cycle analysis (LCA) of HVO, providing a comparative assessment of the environmental impacts across the entire value chain, from raw material production to final consumption and also provides a breakdown of the final production costs. The predominant production processes for HVO—namely hydrotreatment, deoxygenation, and isomerization of triglyceride-based biomass—are technologically well-established and widely adopted in the industry. HVO demonstrates a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, ranging from 60 % to 95 % compared to conventional diesel, throughout its entire life cycle. As a result, the application of life cycle analysis methodologies has become increasingly prioritized by companies in this sector to identify additional environmental impacts across various phases of production, distribution, and utilization of this biofuel.

Publication details

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Publication version

AM - Accepted manuscript

Publisher

Biomass and Bioenergy

Link to the publisher's version

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096195342500100X?dgcid=author

Title of the publication container

Biomass & Bioenergy

Volume

194

DOI

10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107689

Fields of Science and Technology (FOS)

chemical-sciences - Chemical sciences

Publication language (ISO code)

eng - English

Rights type:

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