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A. Zhang and C. Li
3.1 Preparation of Biodiesel from Industrial Vegetable Oil
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 [8]. 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 [9, 10]. 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 [11, 12]. 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 [13]. However, the direct use of plant oils in fuel engines is problematic. Due to their high viscosity (about 11–17 times higher than diesel fuel) and
low volatility, they do not burn completely and form deposits in the fuel injector of
diesel engines [14].
3.1.1 Research Progress on the Conversion of Plant Oil
to Biodiesel at Home and Abroad
3.1.1.1 Development of Biodiesel Abroad
At present, some countries and regions, such as the United States, Europe, and Asia
have begun to set up commercial biodiesel production bases and widely use biodiesel
as alternative fuels [15].
Biodiesel is widely used in Europe, and the main raw materials are rapeseed oil,
soybean oil, and waste oil. The European Parliament relieved 90% of the tax on
biodiesel and enacted laws to support alternative fuels. There are differential taxes
and subsidies for rapeseed production that have helped boost the rapid growth of
the biodiesel industry. In 2003, European countries produced more than 1.76 million
tons of biodiesel, and by 2010, biodiesel production in Europe will reach 8.3 million
A. Zhang and C. Li
3.1 Preparation of Biodiesel from Industrial Vegetable Oil
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 [8]. 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 [9, 10]. 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 [11, 12]. 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 [13]. However, the direct use of plant oils in fuel engines is problematic. Due to their high viscosity (about 11–17 times higher than diesel fuel) and
low volatility, they do not burn completely and form deposits in the fuel injector of
diesel engines [14].
3.1.1 Research Progress on the Conversion of Plant Oil
to Biodiesel at Home and Abroad
3.1.1.1 Development of Biodiesel Abroad
At present, some countries and regions, such as the United States, Europe, and Asia
have begun to set up commercial biodiesel production bases and widely use biodiesel
as alternative fuels [15].
Biodiesel is widely used in Europe, and the main raw materials are rapeseed oil,
soybean oil, and waste oil. The European Parliament relieved 90% of the tax on
biodiesel and enacted laws to support alternative fuels. There are differential taxes
and subsidies for rapeseed production that have helped boost the rapid growth of
the biodiesel industry. In 2003, European countries produced more than 1.76 million
tons of biodiesel, and by 2010, biodiesel production in Europe will reach 8.3 million