2.2 Biodiesel (oil and fat-based biofuel)
The book on biodiesel provides a comprehensive overview of this renewable fuel source.
1. Introduction
Since it is not advisable to use extracted oils and fats directly
in conventional diesel engines they have to be converted into biodiesel.
In total 53.5 billion liters of biodiesel were produced in 2019 worldwide (REN21, 2020). The most important biodiesel producer is the European Union, which accounted for more than 30% of the global biodiesel production.
There are three major process options:
In total 53.5 billion liters of biodiesel were produced in 2019 worldwide (REN21, 2020). The most important biodiesel producer is the European Union, which accounted for more than 30% of the global biodiesel production.
There are three major process options:
Transesterification
Biodiesel is produced through the transesterification reaction of a fat with a short-chain alcohol called Fatty Acids Methyl-Esters (FAME).
Biodiesel is produced through the transesterification reaction of a fat with a short-chain alcohol called Fatty Acids Methyl-Esters (FAME).
Hydroprocessing
Biodiesel is produced via hydrogenation, which means that esters and double bonds are saturated with hydrogen. The resulting products are called Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO).
Biodiesel is produced via hydrogenation, which means that esters and double bonds are saturated with hydrogen. The resulting products are called Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO).
Biofuels Iso-Conversion process
Vegetable oil or animal fats are converted via Biofuels Iso-Conversion (BIC) into cyclo-alkenes by a catalytic hydrothermolysis at supercritical conditions. The alkenes are then saturated by hydroprocessing.
Vegetable oil or animal fats are converted via Biofuels Iso-Conversion (BIC) into cyclo-alkenes by a catalytic hydrothermolysis at supercritical conditions. The alkenes are then saturated by hydroprocessing.
See a brief overview of biofuel basics in the following link: