1 Introduction
49
China, about 1,000 species are introduced and about 300 species of oils content of
more than 20%, such as Camellia oleifera, Xanthoceras sorbifolia, Vernicia fordii,
Armeniaca sibirica, Sapium sebiferum and so on. Although China has carried out
many investigations and research work in recent years, there are still many problems
in producing biodiesel from woody plants. As the world’s second largest oil consumer, China’s energy imports are nearly 50% and annual oil demand is growing. In
addition, air pollution in China is more serious and tends to deteriorate. Therefore,
energy conservation and emission reduction and energy and environmental safety
are China’s long-term problems. The development of environmental protection and
renewable biofuels have become the strategic needs of the country. China introduced
the Renewable Energy Law in 2005, so the production of biodiesel has become an
important way to replace traditional diesel.
Current biodiesel activities are mainly concentrated on research and development
and demonstration projects. The first biodiesel conference was held in New Delhi on
December 12, 2002, and was initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development and the
Petroleum Conservation Research Association. As a tropical country, many plants
in India can produce a sufficient number of oily materials, such as Shorea robusta,
Neem Tree and Jatropha, which can be used as raw materials for biodiesel.
As the first palm power, Malaysia has gradually let the research and development
of biodiesel as an important research direction. It was reported that preliminary test
of biodiesel produced by the experimental equipment of the Malaysian Palm Oil
Research Institute as a diesel engine fuel was successfully completed at the International Biofuels Symposium organized by Malaysia Palm Oil Research Institute
in 1998. The test included detailed testing of the bus fleet (tested by Daimler-Benz
since 1987). Due to the limited availability of raw materials in Europe, the export of
palm oil has become the best business choice for the Malaysian palm oil industry.
In 2001, the Philippine Coconut Bureau announced a domestic plan to use coconut
oil biodiesel as an alternative fuel. Coconut oil contains 45–53% of lauric acid, a
saturated short-chain fatty acid (12:0) with more than 14.9% of oxygen content. On
the one hand, high oxygen standards result in lower energy content and lower engine
efficiency. On the other hand, they have good combustion performance and lower
emission standards.
Biodiesel has been recognized as an alternative fuel. It is estimated that the tax
relief program will be launched within 2–3 years. In South Korea, two small biodiesel
production plants with a total capacity of 8,000 tons per year. NEOENERGY is
building a large biodiesel plant with 100,000 tons per year, intending to use soybean
oil biodiesel as a non-trademark B20 blended fuel is on the market. Some local
governments used biodiesel for testing operations in the fleet, which was completed
in July 2004.
In the past few years, Thailand has blended a variety of unesterified vegetable oils
(coconut and palm oil) with diesel or kerosene, called “biodiesel”. Many of these
oils do not meet official standards for commercial use.
49
China, about 1,000 species are introduced and about 300 species of oils content of
more than 20%, such as Camellia oleifera, Xanthoceras sorbifolia, Vernicia fordii,
Armeniaca sibirica, Sapium sebiferum and so on. Although China has carried out
many investigations and research work in recent years, there are still many problems
in producing biodiesel from woody plants. As the world’s second largest oil consumer, China’s energy imports are nearly 50% and annual oil demand is growing. In
addition, air pollution in China is more serious and tends to deteriorate. Therefore,
energy conservation and emission reduction and energy and environmental safety
are China’s long-term problems. The development of environmental protection and
renewable biofuels have become the strategic needs of the country. China introduced
the Renewable Energy Law in 2005, so the production of biodiesel has become an
important way to replace traditional diesel.
Current biodiesel activities are mainly concentrated on research and development
and demonstration projects. The first biodiesel conference was held in New Delhi on
December 12, 2002, and was initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development and the
Petroleum Conservation Research Association. As a tropical country, many plants
in India can produce a sufficient number of oily materials, such as Shorea robusta,
Neem Tree and Jatropha, which can be used as raw materials for biodiesel.
As the first palm power, Malaysia has gradually let the research and development
of biodiesel as an important research direction. It was reported that preliminary test
of biodiesel produced by the experimental equipment of the Malaysian Palm Oil
Research Institute as a diesel engine fuel was successfully completed at the International Biofuels Symposium organized by Malaysia Palm Oil Research Institute
in 1998. The test included detailed testing of the bus fleet (tested by Daimler-Benz
since 1987). Due to the limited availability of raw materials in Europe, the export of
palm oil has become the best business choice for the Malaysian palm oil industry.
In 2001, the Philippine Coconut Bureau announced a domestic plan to use coconut
oil biodiesel as an alternative fuel. Coconut oil contains 45–53% of lauric acid, a
saturated short-chain fatty acid (12:0) with more than 14.9% of oxygen content. On
the one hand, high oxygen standards result in lower energy content and lower engine
efficiency. On the other hand, they have good combustion performance and lower
emission standards.
Biodiesel has been recognized as an alternative fuel. It is estimated that the tax
relief program will be launched within 2–3 years. In South Korea, two small biodiesel
production plants with a total capacity of 8,000 tons per year. NEOENERGY is
building a large biodiesel plant with 100,000 tons per year, intending to use soybean
oil biodiesel as a non-trademark B20 blended fuel is on the market. Some local
governments used biodiesel for testing operations in the fleet, which was completed
in July 2004.
In the past few years, Thailand has blended a variety of unesterified vegetable oils
(coconut and palm oil) with diesel or kerosene, called “biodiesel”. Many of these
oils do not meet official standards for commercial use.