Biodiesel fuels sources

Biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel originate from cereal crops such as plant oils, and sugar beets. Today the production cost of bioethanol cereal crops is still too high, which is the major reason why bioethanol has not made its breakthrough as a fuel source yet. When producing bioethanol from maize or sugar cane the raw material constitutes about 40-70% of the production cost. 

Sgroi, M., Bollito, G., Saracco, G., Speeehia, S. 2005. BIOFEAT Biodiesel fuel processor for a vehiele fuel eell auxiliary power unit Study of the feed system. J Power Sources 149 8-14. 

Speeehia, S., Tillemans, F.W.A., van den Oosterkamp, PR, Saracco, G. 2005. BIOFEAT Conceptual design and selection of a biodiesel fuel processor for a vehicle fuel cell auxiliary power unit. J Power Sources 145 683-690. 

Fatty acid mono-ester diesel fuel (or biodiesel) has advantage over petroleum-based fuel in being a renewable source of energy, virtually free of sulfur and aromatic compounds (Bagley et al., 1998). Biodiesel fuel reduces total particle volume concentration and does not increase any of the potentially toxic, health related emissions. 

Rendering produced an estimated 4.18 million metric tons of animal fats was produced in the United States in 2000 by rendering.87 Of this amount, approximately 18 percent and 6 percent were edible tallow and lard, respectively, and 41 percent and 35 percent were inedible tallow and grease. Approximately 15 percent and 34 percent of the edible tallow and lard, respectively, and 37 percent of the inedible tallow and grease were exported. Of the inedible tallow and grease used in the United States, an estimated 75 percent was used as animal feed, 16 percent was converted to fatty acids by the oleochemicals industry, 4 percent was used in soaps, and 3 percent in lubricants. Inedible animal fats are the lowest cost domestic fat sources. Their market price per pound sometimes is less than fuel oil, and rendering plants have chosen to bum them as fuels. In 2001, animal fats were included with vegetable oils for federally supported trials of biodiesel fuel. 

In addition to fulfilling market demand, governments (1, 51) have also enabled the development of new markets by mandating specific levels of biodiesel in fuels. Primarily, these mandated fuel markets develop demand for domestic agriculture, reduce reliance on foreign fuel sources, and improve the balance of trade. An unexpected improvement in overall fuel economy can be realized with the addition of low levels of biodiesel to certain fuels. 

Certain short-chain triacylglycerols (SCT) produced by Cuphea viscosissima (113) could be used as sources of low viscosity triacylglycerols. There is no current abundant and commercial short-chain triacylglycerol source available but in the future new plant domestication, genetic engineering, or breeding efforts may lead to SCT biodiesel fuels. 

Fats and oils (triglycerides) from plants and animals are renewable sources of chemicals, but the amounts of the chemicals made from them are small compared with those made from petroleum and natural gas. This may change if biodiesel fuel (e.g., ethyl oleate) made by the alcoholysis of oils becomes common. Such esters may be useful as environmentally friendly solvents.50 Unsaturated oils, such as linseed oil, are the basis of oil-based paints, which cure by cross-linking through oxidation by air. Soaps are the potassium or sodium salts of the long-chain fatty acids obtained by the hydrolysis of the triglycerides. The dibasic dimer fatty acids obtained by the dimerization of oleic and linoleic acids (both Cig acids) are made into oligomeric fatty amides which are used to cure epoxy resins. The un-... 

As environmental concerns gain unprecedented levels of attention wcrldw ide, businesses and consumers alike are seeking out renewable fuel sources. Biodiesel, a clean buniiiig tuel derived front biological sources, is quickly beiitg adopted as an alternative to traditional fcssil fuel. 

Because of its renewability, biodegradability, and better quality of exhaust gas emission (http //www.netl.doe.gov/tech-nologies/coalpower/ewr/water/pdfs/Water%20Energy%20 Overview 2010.pdf), biodiesel as a source of energy has been receiving great attention [149]. Biodiesel is produced via different techniques such as direct/blends [150], microemulsion [151], pyrolysis [152], and transesterification [153]. Among these methods, transesterification reactions to convert fats and oils into biodiesel fuel are the most adopted technique... 

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. 

Many useful lipid oils are extracted from a variety of plant seeds including rapeseed, soybeans, sunflowers, and com. In addition to their food uses, these oils are used in a large variety of applications including raw materials for making other chemical products, lubricants, and as biodiesel fuels. Part of the usefulness of lipid oils in many applications is due to their similarity to petroleum hydrocarbons. Volatile solvents, most commonly the 6-carbon straight-chain alkane n-hexane, CgHj4, are used to extract oils from plant sources. In this process, the solvents are distilled off from the extract and recirculated through the process. 

Vegetable oils were eventually replaced by petroleum-based hydrocarbons. More recently, diesel fuel has been developed from vegetable oil sources that are derivatives of the fatty acids in the oils. Vegetable oils from soybeans and other biological sources are used to make biodiesel fuel as discussed in the following paragraph. 

As well as foodstuffs, coconut oil can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel fuel. Various tropical island countries are using coconut oil as a fuel source to power trucks, automobiles, and buses, and for electrical generators. Before electrical lighting became commonplace, coconut oil was used for lighting in India, and was exported under the name cochin oil. Coconut oil can be used as a skin moisturizer, as an engine lubricant and a transformer oil, and acids derived from coconut oil can be used as a herbicide. Coconut oil is used by movie theater chains to pop popcorn ... 

Other potential sources of plant sterols are rapeseed sterols obtained from the production of fatty acid methyl esters for biodiesel fuel, and sterols contained in other food processing by-products such as maize fiber. However, these sterol blends do not currently have the required safety and efficacy data for commercial use in functional foods. 

Balat, M., 2008. Biodiesel fuel production from vegetable oils via supercritical ethanol transesterification. Energy Sources, Part A Recovery Utilization, and Environmental Effects 30,429-440. 

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