120
C. Li et al.
it tends to grow in a wider region with potentially more utilization options and larger
biomass for harvest.
(4) Propagation difficulty
To build large-scale biodiesel raw material bases, propagation difficulty is an important criterion. The application of an energy plant may be limited, if it has a low
germination percentage despite its high oil content, if it does not survive easily by
sexual or asexual reproduction, or if it is not feasible to establish large-scale biodiesel
raw material bases for this plant.
(5) Oil composition
The various oil constituents of energy plants can be used to produce biodiesel
through transesterification. The ideal vegetable oil composition should resemble
that of petroleum fuel, or it can be easily esterified into monoesters or processed into
hydrocarbons.
4.3.1.3 Expert Evaluation Method and Weight of Indicators
As the first step, an evaluation plan and an evaluation form is devised. Expertise and
experience are utilized in combining quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Ten
experts from the Hunan Academy of Forestry, Central South Forestry College, and
Xiangtan University are invited to the evaluation process. These experts specialize
in the economic forest, forestry, horticulture, chemical processing of forest products,
food processing, and economic management. Given that the projects to be evaluated
are multi-layered, they shall be divided into major projects and minor projects. As to
the calculations, the scores in each minor project are added up, the results of which
are then multiplied. These final scores serve as the basis for evaluation.
S =
m
i=1
n
j=0
S ¨
U
In the equation S i j —Project j in Project i.
M—number of major projects n—number of minor projects.
I—1 − m; j—1 − n
4.3.1.4 Determination and Preselection of Indicators for Weight
Calculation
Based on the data collected, preliminary indicators are designed to measure the
effects of various factors on biodiesel production. These indicators are evaluated
and scored by the ten experts. The weight of the five indicators, including plant oil
content (A), yield per unit area or fruit characteristics (B), suitable planting area (C),
level of propagation difficulty (D), and oil composition (E) is presented in Table 4.4.
C. Li et al.
it tends to grow in a wider region with potentially more utilization options and larger
biomass for harvest.
(4) Propagation difficulty
To build large-scale biodiesel raw material bases, propagation difficulty is an important criterion. The application of an energy plant may be limited, if it has a low
germination percentage despite its high oil content, if it does not survive easily by
sexual or asexual reproduction, or if it is not feasible to establish large-scale biodiesel
raw material bases for this plant.
(5) Oil composition
The various oil constituents of energy plants can be used to produce biodiesel
through transesterification. The ideal vegetable oil composition should resemble
that of petroleum fuel, or it can be easily esterified into monoesters or processed into
hydrocarbons.
4.3.1.3 Expert Evaluation Method and Weight of Indicators
As the first step, an evaluation plan and an evaluation form is devised. Expertise and
experience are utilized in combining quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Ten
experts from the Hunan Academy of Forestry, Central South Forestry College, and
Xiangtan University are invited to the evaluation process. These experts specialize
in the economic forest, forestry, horticulture, chemical processing of forest products,
food processing, and economic management. Given that the projects to be evaluated
are multi-layered, they shall be divided into major projects and minor projects. As to
the calculations, the scores in each minor project are added up, the results of which
are then multiplied. These final scores serve as the basis for evaluation.
S =
m
i=1
n
j=0
S ¨
U
In the equation S i j —Project j in Project i.
M—number of major projects n—number of minor projects.
I—1 − m; j—1 − n
4.3.1.4 Determination and Preselection of Indicators for Weight
Calculation
Based on the data collected, preliminary indicators are designed to measure the
effects of various factors on biodiesel production. These indicators are evaluated
and scored by the ten experts. The weight of the five indicators, including plant oil
content (A), yield per unit area or fruit characteristics (B), suitable planting area (C),
level of propagation difficulty (D), and oil composition (E) is presented in Table 4.4.