Biodiesel
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Vegetable oils can be modified into various, more useful forms that are
suitable for diesel engine application. These include microemulsion, pyrolysis, and transesterification. Pyrolysis of the vegetable oil resulted in products
with low viscosity, high cetane number, accepted amounts of sulfur, water
and sediments, and accepted copper corrosion values. But these are unacceptable in terms of their ash contents, carbon residues, and pour points.
Microemulsion of vegetable oil lowered the viscosity of the vegetable oil but
resulted in irregular injector needle sticking, heavy carbon deposits, and
incomplete combustion.
Among these various conversion methodologies, the transesterification
process has become commercial success. Transesterification is a chemical
process of transforming large, branched triglyceride molecules of the vegetable oils and fats into smaller, straight chain molecules, almost similar in
size to the molecules of the species present in diesel fuel. Many countries
started biodiesel production industries and biodiesel is blended with diesel
commercially as per their national policy. Engine performance, emission,
endurance and metal components wear analysis, fleet studies, and engine oil
effects were conducted by various automotive manufacturers and oil companies. Based on the positive results obtained by them, automotive manufacturers extended the warranty of biodiesel operated vehicles also. European
Union has become the leader of biodiesel production in the world.
Biodiesel refers to diesel equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources such as vegetable oils. It can also be made from animal fats. It is
the ester based oxygenated fuel derived from biological sources. Chemically,
biodiesel is defined as mono alkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids of lipids.
Methanol is preferred over ethanol in the transesterification process as it is
less expensive, and considering its polar and short chain molecular structure. Biodiesel used for blending with diesel should meet the ASTM D 6751
or particular country’s national fuel standards. Biodiesel can be used as combustion extender for reducing the engine exhaust emissions.
Key advantages of biodiesel include
1. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can be used to operate any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. It can be stored anywhere that
diesel fuel is stored.
2. Biodiesel can be used alone or mixed in any ratio with petroleum
diesel fuel in diesel engines.
3. The life cycle production and use of biodiesel produces approximately 80% less carbon dioxide emissions, and almost 100% less sulfur dioxide than diesel. Combustion of biodiesel alone provides over
90% reduction in total unburned hydrocarbons and 75–90% reduction in aromatic hydrocarbons. Biodiesel further provides significant
reductions in particulates and carbon monoxide compared to petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel provides a slight increase or decrease in
43
Vegetable oils can be modified into various, more useful forms that are
suitable for diesel engine application. These include microemulsion, pyrolysis, and transesterification. Pyrolysis of the vegetable oil resulted in products
with low viscosity, high cetane number, accepted amounts of sulfur, water
and sediments, and accepted copper corrosion values. But these are unacceptable in terms of their ash contents, carbon residues, and pour points.
Microemulsion of vegetable oil lowered the viscosity of the vegetable oil but
resulted in irregular injector needle sticking, heavy carbon deposits, and
incomplete combustion.
Among these various conversion methodologies, the transesterification
process has become commercial success. Transesterification is a chemical
process of transforming large, branched triglyceride molecules of the vegetable oils and fats into smaller, straight chain molecules, almost similar in
size to the molecules of the species present in diesel fuel. Many countries
started biodiesel production industries and biodiesel is blended with diesel
commercially as per their national policy. Engine performance, emission,
endurance and metal components wear analysis, fleet studies, and engine oil
effects were conducted by various automotive manufacturers and oil companies. Based on the positive results obtained by them, automotive manufacturers extended the warranty of biodiesel operated vehicles also. European
Union has become the leader of biodiesel production in the world.
Biodiesel refers to diesel equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources such as vegetable oils. It can also be made from animal fats. It is
the ester based oxygenated fuel derived from biological sources. Chemically,
biodiesel is defined as mono alkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids of lipids.
Methanol is preferred over ethanol in the transesterification process as it is
less expensive, and considering its polar and short chain molecular structure. Biodiesel used for blending with diesel should meet the ASTM D 6751
or particular country’s national fuel standards. Biodiesel can be used as combustion extender for reducing the engine exhaust emissions.
Key advantages of biodiesel include
1. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can be used to operate any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. It can be stored anywhere that
diesel fuel is stored.
2. Biodiesel can be used alone or mixed in any ratio with petroleum
diesel fuel in diesel engines.
3. The life cycle production and use of biodiesel produces approximately 80% less carbon dioxide emissions, and almost 100% less sulfur dioxide than diesel. Combustion of biodiesel alone provides over
90% reduction in total unburned hydrocarbons and 75–90% reduction in aromatic hydrocarbons. Biodiesel further provides significant
reductions in particulates and carbon monoxide compared to petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel provides a slight increase or decrease in