Biodiesel production fuels

Sulfur-free fuel, since solid acid catalysts do not leach into the biodiesel product. 

Recently, two processes for biodiesel production from crude tall oil have been proposed [48, 49]. They rely on the use of a homogeneous acid catalyst or of an acyl halide for the esterification reaction, but no information was given on the properties of the fuel obtained, particularly concerning the oxidative stability and conformity with European specification EN 14214 2003 for IV. 

It is predicted that eventually biodiesel may reach 5-7% market share in Europe for diesel fuels [1.29]. This estimate is based on current and planned construction of biodiesel production facilities. When all these facilities are in place, it is estimated that over 1 million tons of biodiesel will be produced in the European Union, with 40,000 additional tons in the Czech Republic. 

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) show large potential applications as diesel substitutes, also known as biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel fuel as renewable energy is an alternative that can reduce energy dependence on petroleum as well as air pollution. Several processes for the production of biodiesel fuel have been developed. Transesterification processes under alkali catalysis with short-chain alcohols give high yields of methyl esters in short reaction times. We investigated transesterification of rapeseed oil to produce the FAMEs. Experimental reaction conditions were molar ratio of oil to alcohol, concentration of catalyst, type of catalyst, reaction time, and temperature. The conversion ratio of rapeseed oil was enhanced by the alcohohoil mixing ratio and the reaction temperature. 

Biodiesel has become an attractive fuel but one problem remains its production costs. There are two aspects of the cost of biodiesel production the cost of raw materials (oil and alcohol) and the cost of process operation. The cost of raw materials accounts for approx 60-75% of the total biodiesel production cost (15). 

First generation bioethanol and biodiesel production, which mainly makes use of cereal grains and vegetable oils, represents a growing source of high quantities of protein as a valuable by-product. Sanders et al. (2007) estimated that a 10% substitution of fossil transportation fuels worldwide by first generation biofuels would result in an annual production of 100 million tonnes of protein - about four times the proteins requirement of the world s human population. A direct result of this would be the saturation of traditional protein markets. New opportunities would therefore emerge for chemical production from proteins. 

Dembiras, A., Biodiesel production via non-catalytic SCF method and biodiesel fuel characteristics, Energy Corner. Manag., 47, 271-2282, 2006... 

Meher, L.C., Vidya Sagar, D., Naik, S.N., Technical aspects of biodiesel production by transesterification, Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 10, 248-268, 2006 Minami, E., Saka, S., Kinetics of hydrolysis and methyl esterification for biodiesel production in two-step supercritical methanol process. Fuel, 85, 2479-2483, 2006... 

Vicente, G., Martinez, M., Aracil, J., A comparative study for vegetable oils for biodiesel production in Spain, Energy Fuels, 20, 394-398, 2006 Vicente, G., Martinez, M., Aracil, J., Integrated biodiesel production a comparison of different homogeneous catalyst systems, Bioresource Technol., 92, 297-305, 2004... 

Crabbe, E., Nolasco-Hipolito, C., Kobayashi, G., Sonomoto, K., and Ishizaki, A. 2001. Biodiesel Production from Crude Palm Oil and Evaluation of Butanol Extraction and Fuel Properties. Proc. Biochem., 37, 65-71. 

U. S. and Europe, respectively), petroleum diesel and methanol and may also be affected by the emphasis on food or fuel applications. Presently, rising soybean oil and declining diesel fuel prices have shaved about 25 cents per gallon off biodiesel profits and in actuality any fluctuation in the price of soybean oil, methanol, or petroleum diesel will affect the profit margins and ultimately the rate at which biodiesel can be produced economically. If oil prices rise to 65 per barrel again, biodiesel production could grow by another 250 million gallons, but if oil prices fall to 45 per barrel, companies may reconsider plans to enter the market (Tullo, 2007). 

As animal fats are a potential feedstock for biodiesel production, Cummins et al. (142) assessed the danger of a human contracting CJD as a result of the use of tallow as a fuel in diesel engines. They concluded that the risk was several orders of magnitude less than the rate of spontaneous appearance of CJD. Thus, scientific analysis indicates that processed (i.e., rendered) animal fat is not an agent of transmission of BSE. Nonetheless, especially in the United Kingdom, the public remains skeptical. This has in some cases led to less use of animal fats in feed applications. Especially in the United Kingdom, the BSE epidemic has reduced the amount of domestically available tallow (because of condemnation) and increased the use of other lipids in place of animal fats. 

Biodiesel is presently making the transition in many countries of the world from a research curiosity to an accepted alternative to petroleum-based fuel. Europe is the leading region for the production and use of biodiesel, with an estimated 2001 output of 757-million L. Biodiesel production in the United States in 2001 was estimated at 79.5-million L. Production and consumption are rapidly increasing worldwide, with estimates of combined US and European output in 2003 at around 1,628 million liters (144). Present and anticipated use constitutes but a fraction of... 

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