process to biodiesels

On August 10 1893, an engine running on Biodiesel ran for the first time. This is why this day has been declared as 'International Biodiesel day'. This model was proposed by Rudolf Diesel. The transesterified oil that was used as source for the first run was Peanut oil. Biodiesel is a liquid produced form materials or biological origin unlike petrodiesel made from fossil fuel. Known previously as American Society for Testing and Materials, the ATSM has certified Biodiesel as confirming to the ATSM D 6751 standards.

The sources of biodiesel can be divided into: 1) Lipid accumulation in plants and algae 2) Hydrocarbons produced in algae or plants.

The lipid sources can be sunflower, linseed, Jatropha, safflower, peanut, rapeseed, olive seeds etc. These lipids have high energy value but are highly viscous. Hence they cannot be easily injected in the engine combustion chambers. This limitation is suggested to be solved by a process called pyrolysis or blending with solvents, emulsification with addition of water or fuels etc, but none proved fit. It was later decided that synthesizing esters of fatty acid was the solution to the viscosity problem. But production from edible oils commands a high price even in developed countries. Hence non-edible oils are the fresh sources for biodiesel. E.g.: Jatropha. These are now cultivated in large areas and researched for biodiesel production.

Certain algae accumulate large (about 60%) of Lipids in their cells when grown in a nutritionally suffucient medium. This property can be exploited to produce large amounts of lipids. Some freshwater algae and plants also store hydrocarbons (made of hydrogen and carbon atoms). E.g. in Botryococcus braunii, 75% of biomass is made of hydrocarbons. Other brown, red and green algae consist of varying amounts of Lipid content. USA, Austria, France, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Malaysia, Italy & other Asian countries have realized the benefits of Biodiesel. These countries are now competing in research on Biodiesel and its production.

The basic chemistry of biodiesel synthesis lies in transesterification process, where an ethyl ester reacts with methanol to form methyl ester and ethanol. Glycerol is a by - product developed in the process which ahs other industrial applications. Methyl esters are favoured for biodiesel production because of the cetane number.

Cetane number is a dimensionless value assigned to indicate the ignition quality of a liquid. This value is high, in case of long unbranched alkanes which are similar long chained compounds. High cetane numbers are related to compound that have low idle noise and easy starting even in cold weather. Though Biodiesel holds much promise for the future, its list of cons includes its properties as being a solvent, able to take up water from the atmosphere etc and sometimes providing reduced power in engines.

Many have patented the process of producing Biodiesel and one such patent is owned by DuPont and Colgate-Palmolove-Peet, and also by CLRI (India). Biodiesel is available nationwide. It can be purchased from the legalized biodiesel distributors, producers and marketers, or even at a public pump throughout any nation. Biodiesel does have its cons, however the pros outweigh them. From the looks of it, biodiesel is going to have a bright future ahead of us.

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