Biodiesel fuels oilseeds

For biodiesel fuels, the basic idea is to convert natural glycerides to liquid products that have properties closer to those of diesel fuels than those of gasolines. The feedstocks for conversion to biodiesel are usually triglyceride oils from oilseeds. These oils normally contain small amounts of monoglycerides, diglycerides, and free fatty acids. Animal fats and natural non-seed-oil triglycerides are also suitable starting materials. 

Dr Adam Harvey at Newcastle University (Harvey, 2006) is examining the use of oscillatory baffle reactors as components to intensify the production of biodiesel fuels. The research at Newcastle University uses rapeseed oil as the feedstock, the atfiaction being generally that it is a renewable energy source, it reduces CO2 emissions and pollution and it attracts tax relief in the UK at present. The range of PI projects in this area include a portable plant, solid catalysts (which allow a reduced number of process steps compared to liquid catalysts), the development of a reactive extraction process direct from the oilseeds, examination of cold flow properties and the production of biodiesel from algae. 

Korbitz, W., 1995. Utilization of oil as a biodiesel fuel. In Kimber, D., McGregor, D.I. (Eds.), Brassica Oilseeds. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, United Kingdom, pp. 339-352. 

I.R. Richards, Energy balances in the growth of oilseed rape for biodiesel and of wheat for bioethanol, Levington Agriculture Report, British Association for Bio Fuels and Oils (BABFO) Jan. 2000 (http //www.biodiesel.co.uk). 

Few countries apart from Brazil have developed alternative fuels to displace petrol in transport. In Europe biodiesel, a replacement for fossil diesel manufactured by reacting methanol with fats extracted from oilseeds, is starting to make an impact... 

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