There are two main categories of synthetic diesel; that is synthetic biodiesel and synthetic diesel. In theory these are chemically identical, the difference being that the synthetic diesel is generated from fossile while the synthetic biodiesel normally is generated from contemporary biomass sources.

The main difference between synthetic diesel and conventional diesel is the lower content of aromatic hydrocarbons; polyaromatic and polycyclic compounds which all when emitted are considered harmful to the envoironment. Also the synthetic diesel has a lower density than conventinal diesel, below 0,8 Kg/litre something that is regarded as beneficial from a toxicology and health perspective.

Production of syntetic diesel

The production of syntetic diesel from natural gas or biogas has three main stages:

1. Cleaning and drying
2. Reforming methane into synthesis gas (syngas)
3. Production of hydrocarbons (Fischer Tropsch reactor)

In addition some pre-treathment of the gas might be necessary pending on the quality of the gas.