Biodiesel

Question 1

what is biodiesel

Answer 1

Alternative fuel for diesel engines
Made from vegetable oil or animal fat
Meets health effect testing (CAA)
Lower emissions, High flash point (>300F), Safer
Biodegradable, Essentially non-toxic.
Chemically, biodiesel molecules are mono-alkyl esters produced usually from triglyceride esters

Question 2

chemistry of triglycerides

Answer 2

Biodiesel is made from the combination of a triglyceride with a monohydroxy alcohol (i.e. methanol, ethanol…).
What is a triglyceride? Made from a combination of glycerol and three fatty acids:

Question 3

transesterification

Answer 3

First step, triglyceride turned into diglyceride, methoxide (minus Na) joins freed FA to make biodiesel, Na joins OH from water (from methoxide formation) to make NaOH. Other H joins the diglyceride.

Question 4

feedstock choicces for biodiesel

Answer 4

Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO)
Virgin Vegetable Oil
Soy
Canola (variety of Europe’s Rapeseed)
Palm
Jatropha
Other: Hemp, Sunflower, Camelina
Industrial byproduct – Animal Tallow, Inedible Corn Oil
Algae
                               Liposuction – yes.
Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO)
Virgin Vegetable Oil
Soy
Canola (variety of Europe’s Rapeseed)
Palm
Jatropha
Other: Hemp, Sunflower, Camelina
Industrial byproduct – Animal Tallow, Inedible Corn Oil
Algae
                               Liposuction – yes.

Question 5

Oil Feedstock Yields per Acre per Year

Answer 5

Corn – 15 gallons
Hemp – 31 gallons
Soybeans – 38 gallons 
Camelina – 50 gallons
Sunflowers – 82 gallons
Rapeseed/Canola – 102 gallons
Jatropha – 162 gallons? -> 1600 gallons?
Oil palm – 508 gallons
Algae - 20,000 gallons? (LiveFuels Inc.)               4,000 gallons (Bionavitas)

Question 6

biodiesel can be used in existing engines

Answer 6

Pure Biodiesel (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel (B20, BXX).
Rudolf Diesel: peanut oil.
Little or no engine modifications 
Use existing fuel distribution network.
Available now

Question 7

advantage of biodiesel

Answer 7

1) Produced locally
2) Improved air quality
3) Renewable resource
4) Simple production process
5) Works in existing infrastructure
- Today’s diesel cars and trucks
- Today’s distribution system
- Today’s filling stations