Catalytic deoxygenation of fatty acids and their derivatives to hydrocarbon fuels via decarboxylation/decarbonylation

Fatty acids and their derivatives can be converted to renewable and carbon-neutral fuel-like hydrocarbons that are entirely fungible with fossil fuels. Typically, these hydrocarbon-based biofuels are obtained through hydrotreating, a method which has the significant disadvantages of requiring problematic sulfided catalysts and high pressures of hydrogen. In recent years, decarboxylation/decarbonylation has been proposed as an alternative method, as this approach has the advantages of permitting the use of simpler catalysts and requiring less hydrogen than hydrotreating. In this contribution, the deoxygenation of fatty acids and their derivatives to fuel-like hydrocarbons via decarboxylation/decarbonylation is critically reviewed. The main aspects discussed include the influence of the feed, catalyst, reactor system and reaction conditions on the decarboxylation/decarbonylation reaction, as well as the reaction mechanism and catalyst deactivation/regeneration.