1 Introduction
39
In a variety of polymer applications, such as coatings, a large amount of solvents
has to be used, including hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvents. Here, a clear trend is
seen toward the so-called “green solvents”, such as ester solvents, typically produced
from naturally based fatty acids and/or fatty alcohols, representing the largest group.
1.2.2.4 Plant Oils and Their Oleochemicals as Alternative Diesel Fuels
The use of plant oils in diesel engines is nearly as old as the diesel engine itself. The
inventor of the diesel engine, Rudolf Diesel, reportedly used groundnut (peanut) oil
as a fuel for demonstration purposes in 1900 [30]. Some other work was carried out
on the use of plant oils in diesel engines in the 1930s and 1940s. The fuel and energy
crises of the late 1970s and early 1980s as well as the accompanying concerns about
the depletion of the world’s nonrenewable resources provided the incentives to seek
alternatives to conventional, petroleum-based fuels. In this context, plant oils as fuel
for diesel engines were remembered. They now occupy a prominent position in the
development of alternative fuels. Hundreds of scientific articles and various other
reports from around the world dealing with plant oil-based alternative diesel fuels
(“biodiesel”) have appeared in print. They have advanced from being purely experimental fuels to initial stages of commercialization. Nevertheless, various technical
and economic aspects require further improvement of these fuels.
Numerous different plant oils have been tested as biodiesel. Often the plant oils
investigated for their suitability as biodiesel are those which occur abundantly in the
country of testing. Therefore, soybean oil is of primary interest as biodiesel source
in the United States while many European countries are concerned with rapeseed oil,
and countries with tropical climate prefer to utilize coconut oil or palm oil. Other plant
oils, including sunflower, and safflower, have also been investigated. Furthermore,
other sources of biodiesel studied include animal fats and used or waste cooking
oils. Sources of biodiesel with some emphasis on developing countries have been
discussed [31].
1.2.2.5 The Development and Prospect of Palm Oil Industry
In 2013, the world palm oil production reached 55.7 million tons. Indonesia and
Malaysia shared 85% of it with their production of 26.70 and 21.70 million tons,
respectively. The aims of this study were to identify and analyze the development and
prospect of the Indonesian palm oil industry and its derivative products. Data were
analyzed by using a descriptive approach. The area of oil palm plantation increased
to 9,074,621 ha in 2012. Indonesia’s palm oil production in 2012 was 23.5 million
tons. There was also an increased Indonesia’s palm oil export to 18.15 million tons
in 2012. In 2010, the installed capacity of the cooking oil industry in Indonesia was
15.4 million tons. For the fatty alcohol industry, the installed capacity was 320,000
tons/year. In 2007, with real production of 300,000 tons, the 100% real capacity was
almost reached. The installed capacities of biodiesel and glycerin industries in 2011
39
In a variety of polymer applications, such as coatings, a large amount of solvents
has to be used, including hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvents. Here, a clear trend is
seen toward the so-called “green solvents”, such as ester solvents, typically produced
from naturally based fatty acids and/or fatty alcohols, representing the largest group.
1.2.2.4 Plant Oils and Their Oleochemicals as Alternative Diesel Fuels
The use of plant oils in diesel engines is nearly as old as the diesel engine itself. The
inventor of the diesel engine, Rudolf Diesel, reportedly used groundnut (peanut) oil
as a fuel for demonstration purposes in 1900 [30]. Some other work was carried out
on the use of plant oils in diesel engines in the 1930s and 1940s. The fuel and energy
crises of the late 1970s and early 1980s as well as the accompanying concerns about
the depletion of the world’s nonrenewable resources provided the incentives to seek
alternatives to conventional, petroleum-based fuels. In this context, plant oils as fuel
for diesel engines were remembered. They now occupy a prominent position in the
development of alternative fuels. Hundreds of scientific articles and various other
reports from around the world dealing with plant oil-based alternative diesel fuels
(“biodiesel”) have appeared in print. They have advanced from being purely experimental fuels to initial stages of commercialization. Nevertheless, various technical
and economic aspects require further improvement of these fuels.
Numerous different plant oils have been tested as biodiesel. Often the plant oils
investigated for their suitability as biodiesel are those which occur abundantly in the
country of testing. Therefore, soybean oil is of primary interest as biodiesel source
in the United States while many European countries are concerned with rapeseed oil,
and countries with tropical climate prefer to utilize coconut oil or palm oil. Other plant
oils, including sunflower, and safflower, have also been investigated. Furthermore,
other sources of biodiesel studied include animal fats and used or waste cooking
oils. Sources of biodiesel with some emphasis on developing countries have been
discussed [31].
1.2.2.5 The Development and Prospect of Palm Oil Industry
In 2013, the world palm oil production reached 55.7 million tons. Indonesia and
Malaysia shared 85% of it with their production of 26.70 and 21.70 million tons,
respectively. The aims of this study were to identify and analyze the development and
prospect of the Indonesian palm oil industry and its derivative products. Data were
analyzed by using a descriptive approach. The area of oil palm plantation increased
to 9,074,621 ha in 2012. Indonesia’s palm oil production in 2012 was 23.5 million
tons. There was also an increased Indonesia’s palm oil export to 18.15 million tons
in 2012. In 2010, the installed capacity of the cooking oil industry in Indonesia was
15.4 million tons. For the fatty alcohol industry, the installed capacity was 320,000
tons/year. In 2007, with real production of 300,000 tons, the 100% real capacity was
almost reached. The installed capacities of biodiesel and glycerin industries in 2011