There is disclosed a method for conversion of crude
tall oil into high-quality diesel fuels comprising the steps of: (a) removal of non-oil contaminants present in the crude
tall oil and recovering valuable organic compounds present in the crude
tall oil, thereby forming a refined tall oil
stream; (b) removal of the volatile fraction of the refined tall oil
stream from step a), thereby forming a
volatiles free oil
stream comprising organic components with boiling points, at
atmospheric pressure, of 170 degrees C. or higher; (c) separation in a
vacuum distillation column of the
volatiles free oil stream of step b) into two process streams or phases wherein a first process stream or phase is substantially comprising components with boiling points, at
atmospheric pressure, in the range of 170-400 degrees C. and a second process stream or phase is substantially comprising components with boiling points, at
atmospheric pressure, over 400 degrees C.; (d) lowering the
oxygen content in the stream comprised of components with boiling points in the range 200-400 degrees C. from step c) by
decarboxylation and / or
decarbonylation.