Method for producing biodiesel fuel and biodiesel fuel composition

A method for producing biodiesel fuel, comprising:

• impregnating an alumina support with a solution containing a palladium(Pd) compound, and drying to provide a hydrogenation catalyst comprising Pd, wherein the alumina support is not penetrated with the solution, the Pd being supported only on the surface of the alumina support, and an amount of Pd in the hydrogenation catalyst is from 0.1 to 10 weight %, and
• hydrogenating (1) a fatty acid methyl ester prepared from fat and/or waste edible oil by a transesterification reaction, and/or (2) a fatty acid methyl ester prepared from a fatty acid by an esterification reaction in the presence of the hydrogenation catalyst comprising palladium under about 1 MPa or less of hydrogen pressure at a temperature from 80 ° C. to 120 ° C. to prepare a hydrogenated product containing a saturated fatty acid methyl ester, a di- or more-unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester, and a mono-unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester.

A method for producing petroleum diesel-containing biodiesel fuel, comprising:

• impregnating a zeolite support with a solution containing a palladium(Pd) compound and platinum(Pt) compound, and drying to provide a hydrogenation catalyst(I), and kneading the hydrogenation catalyst(I) with an alumina support to provide a hydrogenation catalyst composition, and drying to provide the hydrogenation catalyst composition comprising Pd and Pt, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst(I) has a Pd/Pt molar ratio of from 0.1/10 to 10/1, a total amount of Pd and Pt in the hydrogenation catalyst(I) is from 0.1 to 10 weight %, and the Pd and Pt are supported with the zeolite support having a silica/alumina ratio of 40 or more,
• hydrogenating (1) a fatty acid methyl ester prepared from fat and/or waste edible oil by a transesterification reaction, and/or (2) a fatty acid methyl ester prepared from a fatty acid by an esterification reaction in the presence of the hydrogenation catalyst composition under about 1 MPa or less of hydrogen pressure at a temperature from 80 ° C. to 120 ° C. to prepare a hydrogenated product containing a saturated fatty acid methyl ester, a di- or more-unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester, and a mono-unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester, and
• mixing the hydrogenated product with petroleum diesel.

A method for producing petroleum diesel-containing biodiesel fuel, comprising:

• impregnating an alumina support with a solution containing a palladium(Pd) compound, and drying to provide a hydrogenation catalyst comprising Pd, wherein the alumina support is not penetrated with the solution, the Pd being supported only on a surface of the alumina support, and an amount of Pd in the hydrogenation catalyst is from 0.1 to 10 weight %,
• hydrogenating (1) a fatty acid methyl ester prepared from fat and/or waste edible oil by a transesterification reaction, and/or (2) a fatty acid methyl ester prepared from fatty acid by an esterification reaction in the presence of the hydrogenation catalyst under about 1 MPa or less of the hydrogen pressure at a temperature from 80 ° C. to 120 ° C. to prepare a hydrogenated product containing a saturated methyl ester, a di- or more-unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester, and a mono-unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester, and
• mixing the hydrogenated product with petroleum diesel.