BIODIESEL

CONVERSION OF OIL
INTO FUEL

BY-HIMANSHU GURJAR
14STUHHCS0120

What is biodiesel ?
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil - or
animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of
long-chain alkyl(methyl, ethyl, or propyl)
esters. Biodiesel is a renewable, cleanburning diesel . Biodiesel can be used
alone, or blended with petrodiesel in any
proportions. Biodiesel blends can also be
used as heating oil.

Blends of Biodiesel
Blends of biodiesel and conventional
hydrocarbon-based diesel are products
most commonly distributed for use in the
retail diesel fuel marketplace. Much of
the world uses a system known as the
"B" factor to state the amount of
biodiesel in any fuel mix:
1. 100% biodiesel is referred to as B100
2. 20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel is
labeled B20

3. 5% biodiesel, 95% petrodiesel is

labeled B5
4. 2% biodiesel, 98% petrodiesel is
labeled
B2 biodiesel and lower can be
Blends
of 20%
used in diesel equipment with no, or only
minor
modifications,although
certain
manufacturers do not extend warranty
coverage if equipment is damaged by
these blends. Biodiesel can also be used
in its pure form (B100), but may require
certain engine modifications to avoid
maintenance and performance problems.

How it is made?
Biodiesel is made through a chemical
process
called
transesterification
whereby the glycerin is separated from
the fat or vegetable oil. The process
leaves behind two products -- methyl
esters (the chemical name for biodiesel)
and glycerin (a valuable byproduct
usually sold to be used in soaps and
other products).

Transesterification
This involves vegetable or animal fats and oils
being reacted with short-chain alcohols
(typically methanol or ethanol). The alcohols
used should be of low molecular weight being
one of the most used ethanol for its low cost.
However, greater conversions into biodiesel can
be reached using methanol. Although the
transesterification reaction can be catalyzed by
acids or bases but the common means of
production is base-catalyzed transesterification.
This path has lower reaction times and catalyst
cost than those posed by acid catalysis.
However,
alkaline
catalysis
has
the
disadvantage of its high sensitivity to both
water and a fatty acid present in the oils.

Production meathods:
Supercritical process
An alternative, catalyst-free method for
transesterification
uses
supercritical
methanol at high temperatures and
pressures in a continuous process.
Ultrasonic reactor method
In the ultrasonic reactor method, the
ultrasonic waves cause the reaction
mixture to produce and collapse bubbles
constantly. This cavitation simultaneously
provides the mixing and heating required
to carry out the transesterification

Lipase-catalyzed method
Large amounts of research have focused recently on the
use of enzymes as a catalyst for the transesterification.

Why should we use biodiesel?

Biodiesel is better for the environment
because it is made from renewable
resources
and
has
lower
emissions
compared to petroleum diesel. It is less
toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast
as sugar. Produced domestically with
natural resources, its use decreases our
dependence
onimported
fuel
and
contributes to our own economy.

Applications
Vehicular use and manufacturer acceptance
The Volkswagen Group has released a statement indicating that
several of its vehicles are compatible with B5 and B100.

Railway usage
British train operating company Virgin Trains claimed to have
run the UK's first "biodiesel train", which was converted to run
on 80% petrodiesel and 20% biodiesel.

Aircraft use
A test flight has been performed by a Czech jet aircraft
completely powered on biodiesel.

As a heating oil
Biodiesel can also be used as a heating fuel in domestic and
commercial boilers, a mix of heating oil and biofuel which is
standardized and taxed slightly differently from diesel fuel used
for transportation. Bioheat fuel is a proprietary blend of
biodiesel and traditional heating oil.

Biodiesel in generators
Backup diesel-fueled generators allow companies to avoid
damaging blackouts of critical operations at the expense of high
pollution and emission rates.

Biodiesel in india
Biofuel development in India centres mainly around
the cultivation and processing of Jatropha plant seeds
which are very rich in oil (40%). Jatropha has the
potential to provide economic benefits at the local
level since under suitable management it has the
potential to grow in dry marginal non-agricultural
lands, thereby allowing villagers and farmers to
leverage non-farm land for income generation. As
well, increased Jatropha oil production delivers
economic benefits to India on the macroeconomic or
national level as it reduces the nation's fossil fuel
import bill for diesel production.