Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Biodiesel Production
Biodiesel Production
Biodiesel Production
Austin Pett
Robert York
Transportation Energy Demand
Total delivered energy
consumption for
transportation was 27.8
quadrillion Btu in 2004
This accounted for over
25% of the entire U.S.
energy consumption
Projected to reach 39.7
quadrillion Btu in 2030 1
The Alternative
2 Biodiesel is a cleaner
burning replacement fuel
made from renewable
sources like new and
used vegetable oils and
animal fats
Low-level blends (≤20%
biodiesel) can be used in
almost any existing diesel
engine
High-level blends (>20%
can be used in most new
diesel engines
Biodiesel Background
Four main production Transesterification
methods Most common
Direct use and production method
blending Uses vegetable oils
Micro emulsions and animal fats as
Thermal cracking feed stocks
Transesterification The reaction of a fat or
oil with an alcohol to
form esters (biodiesel)
and glycerol
Technological Challenges
Expensive feed 3
4
Biodiesel Economics
6
There is ample room for
improvement in the
efficiency of processing
biodiesel
Development of a
continuous
transesterification
process
Recovery of high
quality glycerol
Government Policy
Energy Policy Act (Energy Conservation Reauthorization Act of 1998)
Fuel-supply reliability