Biodiesel

Definition of Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a natural and renewable domestic fuel which is alternative for diesel
engines, made from vegetable oil and animal fat.
It comes no petroleum, is not toxic and biodegradable.
Biodiesel is typically produced through the reaction of a vegetable oil or animal fat
with methanol in the presence catalyst to yield glycerine and biodiesel. ( Chemically
called methyl esters )

Biodiesel Background
Biodiesel is a fuel derived from vegetable oils or animal fats that can be used either as a
replacement for petroleum diesel or blended with petroleum diesel for use in a standard
diesel engine. Diesel engines were originally designed to run on strait vegetable oil
(SVO) but, during the 20th century, petroleum diesel fuel became more readily available
and economical as a fuel source for diesel engines. Modern diesel engines are designed to
operate on diesel fuel and not SVO. Biodiesel is produced from a chemical reaction
between a vegetable oil (or an animal fat), an alcohol, and a catalyst. Glycerin is also
produced during this process. Animal fats and vegetable oils are comprised primarily of
triglyceride molecules. The reaction of the triglyceride molecules with an alcohol
(typically methanol) in the presence of a catalyst is called transesterification. The
transesterification process transforms vegetable oil, alcohol and a catalyst into biodiesel
and glycerin. Typical proportions required for this reaction are: Inputs: 100 units of
vegetable oil; 10 to 15 units of alcohol; 0.5 to 2 units of catalyst Output: 100 units of
biodiesel; 10 to 15 units of glycerol The above proportions may be adjusted for
differences in the chemical composition of the oils and fats to be processed, the type and
purity of the alcohol used, and the technology employed to facilitate the reaction.

Socio-Economic Benefits

Biodiesel, given an adequate access to used vegetable oil exists locally, can be produced
locally. It can reinforce livelihoods through the creation of new jobs and business
opportunities in the community. It can reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports and
vulnerability to fluctuation of fuel prices on the world market; a tremendous economic
and political advantage for any country especially an import-dependant country like the
island of Barbados.

Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel derived from a renewable domestic resource. It has several
advantages such as: 1) being biodegradable, 2) being non-toxic, 3) having low emissions
of carbon monoxide, 4) having a relatively high flash point (150° C), which makes it less
volatile and safer to transport handle than petro-diesel, and 5) it has a good lubricating
properties that can reduce engine wear and extend engine life. The transesterification is
the most common way to produce biodiesel. It is a catalyzed chemical reaction
involving vegetable oil and an alcohol to yield fatty acid alkyl esters (i.e., biodiesel)
and glycerol
The Triglycerides are the main component of vegetable oil. It consists of
three long chain fatty acids esterified to a glycerol backbone.

When the triglycerides react with alcohol (methanol or ethanol), the three
fatty acid chains are released from the glycerol skeleton and combine with the
alcohol to produce fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerol as the by-
product. R1, R2, and R3 represent Alkyl groups present in the WVO. The catalyst
is NaOH (lye). In general, a large excess of methanol is used to shift the
equilibrium far to the right (Fig.1).

The biodiesel making process is based upon a chemical reaction. A lipid

transesterification process is used to convert waste vegetable oil (WVO) to a series
of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters using sodium hydroxide (lye) as a catalyst and methanol
(99% + purity) as the primary reactant. In this work, methanol was used because it
is less expensive than other higher molecular weight alcohols (such as ethanol), and
the reaction is of higher quality. The major drawback of using a lower weight
alcohol like methanol is the cold filter plugging point is higher (meaning fuel gelling
can occur at warmer temperatures), however in the southeast USA region this is not
a major issue. Excess free fatty acids that are in the oil are converted to glycerin,
and after the biodiesel is allowed to settle the glycerin can be drained off. In essence
the goal of the reaction is to replace the glycerin molecule in the WVO with an
alcohol molecule.