In the current decade one of the most important challenges is to find out environment friendly energy source and the most recent finding source is biodiesel. Biodiesel can mitigate the need for fossil fuel without any devastating environmental effect.
Biodiesel is of vegetable oil or animal fat origin consisting of long chain alkyl esters like methyl, propyl, ethyl etc. In the biodiesel production plan organic oil is altered through the use of a catalyst and an alcohol. As a result of chemical reaction oil molecules are broken and replace the glycerin portion of the molecule with an alcohol molecule. This glycerin is discarded from the bottom of the plant, as a result of which biodiesel is drained off. This biodiesel is finally purified. The purified biodiesel can be used either in pure form or in blended form with petroleum diesel at any concentration as it is used in most injection pump diesel engines.
Biodiesel has much more lubricating properties as well as higher cetane ratings than petroleum fuel. Addition of biodiesel decreases fuel system wear. By using biodiesel it has been found that it gives more complete combustion and increases the engine energy output as well as partially compensates for the higher energy density of petro diesel. Now a days the amount of biodiesel usage is about 3.8 million per year. From 2007 biodiesel production has found growth with an average rate from 2002-2006 of over 40%. In 2008 Europe had alone produced 7.8 million tones. In 2005-2006 the world production of biodiesel was about 110 million tones. Amongst them are about 34 million tons each of palm oil and soybean oil. The oils which are commonly used in biodiesel production are virgin oil feedstock, waste vegetable oil, animal fats like tallow, lard, yellow grease, chicken fat, omega-3 fatty acid from fish etc, algae, oils from halophytes etc.
The actual importance of using biodiesel is not only to replace fossil fuel which will not be available someday because of limited storage but also control the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As fossil fuels the usage of biodiesel will still produce one of the most important greenhouse gas carbon dioxide but the plant feedstock used in its production absorbs carbon dioxide through photosynthesis from atmosphere, thus it is distinct from fossil fuels. Biodiesel use can decrease direct tailpipe emission of particulates, about 50% as compared with fossil fuels. Through the use with additives biodiesel produces 10% nitrogen oxide which is much lower than petroleum. Besides degradation rate of biodiesel is same as dextrose control and 5 times quicker than petroleum over a period of 28 days. It has been found that biodiesel blends double the rate of petroleum diesel degradation through co-metabolism. In addition biodiesel degrades more completely and shows no mortalities and little toxicity on plant and animal.
Practically biodiesel is very easy to use. Biodiesel or biodiesel blends can be used in engines, vehicles or infrastructure with practically no change. It’s another advantage is it provides similar horse power, torque and fuel mileage compared to petroleum diesel fuel. Even in cold weather there is no problem to use it because you can use it in gel form, Just blend it with winterized diesel fuel, isn’t it very easy?
World is now suffering from green house effect at the same time the total energy recourses are getting reduced day by day which will come to an end one day. In this situation biodiesel can really be treated as a ray of hope, what say?
Biodiesel is of vegetable oil or animal fat origin consisting of long chain alkyl esters like methyl, propyl, ethyl etc. In the biodiesel production plan organic oil is altered through the use of a catalyst and an alcohol. As a result of chemical reaction oil molecules are broken and replace the glycerin portion of the molecule with an alcohol molecule. This glycerin is discarded from the bottom of the plant, as a result of which biodiesel is drained off. This biodiesel is finally purified. The purified biodiesel can be used either in pure form or in blended form with petroleum diesel at any concentration as it is used in most injection pump diesel engines.
Biodiesel has much more lubricating properties as well as higher cetane ratings than petroleum fuel. Addition of biodiesel decreases fuel system wear. By using biodiesel it has been found that it gives more complete combustion and increases the engine energy output as well as partially compensates for the higher energy density of petro diesel. Now a days the amount of biodiesel usage is about 3.8 million per year. From 2007 biodiesel production has found growth with an average rate from 2002-2006 of over 40%. In 2008 Europe had alone produced 7.8 million tones. In 2005-2006 the world production of biodiesel was about 110 million tones. Amongst them are about 34 million tons each of palm oil and soybean oil. The oils which are commonly used in biodiesel production are virgin oil feedstock, waste vegetable oil, animal fats like tallow, lard, yellow grease, chicken fat, omega-3 fatty acid from fish etc, algae, oils from halophytes etc.
The actual importance of using biodiesel is not only to replace fossil fuel which will not be available someday because of limited storage but also control the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As fossil fuels the usage of biodiesel will still produce one of the most important greenhouse gas carbon dioxide but the plant feedstock used in its production absorbs carbon dioxide through photosynthesis from atmosphere, thus it is distinct from fossil fuels. Biodiesel use can decrease direct tailpipe emission of particulates, about 50% as compared with fossil fuels. Through the use with additives biodiesel produces 10% nitrogen oxide which is much lower than petroleum. Besides degradation rate of biodiesel is same as dextrose control and 5 times quicker than petroleum over a period of 28 days. It has been found that biodiesel blends double the rate of petroleum diesel degradation through co-metabolism. In addition biodiesel degrades more completely and shows no mortalities and little toxicity on plant and animal.
Practically biodiesel is very easy to use. Biodiesel or biodiesel blends can be used in engines, vehicles or infrastructure with practically no change. It’s another advantage is it provides similar horse power, torque and fuel mileage compared to petroleum diesel fuel. Even in cold weather there is no problem to use it because you can use it in gel form, Just blend it with winterized diesel fuel, isn’t it very easy?
World is now suffering from green house effect at the same time the total energy recourses are getting reduced day by day which will come to an end one day. In this situation biodiesel can really be treated as a ray of hope, what say?
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