Compositions and methods for forming
hydrocarbon products from triglycerides are disclosed. In one aspect, the methods involve the
thermal decomposition of fatty acids, which can be derived from the
hydrolysis of triglycerides. The
thermal decomposition products can be combined with low molecular weight olefins, such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, and subjected to molecular averaging reactions. Alternatively, the products can be subjected to hydrocracking reactions,
isomerization reactions, and the like. The products can be isolated in the
gasoline, jet and / or
diesel fuel ranges. Thus, vegetable oils and / or animal fats can be converted using water, catalysts, and heat, into conventional products in the
gasoline, jet and / or
diesel fuel ranges. These products are virtually indistinguishable from those derived from their
petroleum-based analogs, except that they can have virtually no aromatic,
sulfur or
nitrogen content, they are derived, in whole or in part, from renewable resources, and can also be derived from domestically available
coal and / or
natural gas.