 Biodiesel is an alternative fuel for diesel engines that is made from new or used

vegetable oils or animal fats, which are non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable resources.

 Fat and oils are chemically reacted with an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol. The
reaction requires a catalyst, usually a strong base, such as sodium or potassium hydroxide,
and produces chemical compounds known as fatty acid methyl esters. As by-products are
produced glycerine, a raw material in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and also
potassium fertilizer used in agriculture and the fertilizer industry.
 Biodiesel is a very versatile transport fuel: does no require infrastructure change. The
biodiesel can be produced from local raw material (or collection of used vegetable or frying
oil) in rural regions in developing countries resulting in an extremely positive impact on rural
development security of supply and employment and aiming to a sustainable development
of society.
 There are three basic routes to biodiesel production from oils and fats:
i. Base catalyzed transesterification of the oil.
ii. Direct acid catalyzed transesterification of the oil.
iii. Conversion of the oil to its fatty acids and then to biodiesel.
 Most of the biodiesel produced today is done with the base catalyzed reaction for several
reasons:
i. It has low temperature and pressure.
o It yields high conversion (98%) with minimal side reactions and reaction time.
o It is a direct conversion to biodiesel with no intermediate compounds.
o No exotic materials of construction are needed.
ii. Production
o Among the different oils available for biodiesel production are fresh plant oils such as
Soybean Oil, Rape Seed Oil, Palm Oil, Peanut Oil, Canola Oil, sunflower oil as well waste
cooking oils or animals fats with a high content in free fatty acids.
iii. Uses and properties
o Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel (B20) can generally be used in
unmodified diesel engines.
o Higher blends, even pure biodiesel (100% biodiesel), may be able to be used in some engines
with little or no modification.
o Using biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine substantially reduces emissions of unburned
hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulphates.
o Biodiesel has positive performance attributes such as high fuel lubricity, and high oxygen
content, which may make it a preferred blending stock with future ultra-clean diesel.
o Biodiesel is more lubricating than diesel fuel, it increases the engine life and it can be used to
replace sulphur, a lubricating agent that, when burned, produces sulphur dioxide - the
primary component in acid rain.
o Emissions of nitrogen oxides increase with the concentration of biodiesel in the fuel. Some
biodiesel produces more nitrogen oxides than others, and some additives have shown
promise in reducing the increases.
o In the case of biodiesel, NO2 emissions are a function of combustion temperature.
o The higher the heat of combustion, the greater the NOx emissions. Because biodiesel
contains more oxygen than diesel fuel, the heat of combustion is slightly higher.
 When diesel fuel or biodiesel cools, wax crystals can form in the fuel.
 The production of biodiesel is relevant for developing countries where the demand of
transport fuels is going to increase to a great extent.
 A high-quality research is promoted in support of a sustainable development of society
covering subjects of importance to economic and social development and aiming a greater
energy self-sufficiency and security in addition to environmental (decreasing the air pollution
from transportation and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions) and socio-economic benefits.