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Biodiesel is a non-toxic type of diesel fuel that is renewable as well as biodegradable. It is derived from animal fats and vegetable oils. Biodiesel is made up of a long chain of fatty acid esters.
- It can be used as an alternative fuel to conventional diesel.
- The process used to convert biodiesel into a renewable fuel is called transesterification.
- According to the US National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel is also known as mono-alkyl ester.
- The oil required for biodiesel is mostly sourced from palm, soybean, or rapeseed.
- These oils are mixed with alcohol to get the desired product.
- It will form the methyl, ethyl and propyl ester by the process of transesterification.
- Mostly, the waste vegetable oils from restaurants are used to make biodiesel.
- Biodiesel is a substitute for fossil diesel fuel.
- It is a rich source of energy that is less toxic and contains fewer pollutants.
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Key Terms: Biodiesel, Renewable , Biodegradable, Transesterification, Ester, Methy, Propyl, Greenhouse Gases, Pollutants, Hydrocarbon
Production of Biodiesel
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Biodiesel is an alternative fuel prepared by combining vegetable oil with alcohol. It gets its source from raw materials such as animal fats/oils, vegetable oils, and waste oils from restaurants. Biodiesel is manufactured by following the processes which are as follows:
- The catalyzation of base by transesterification of the oil.
- Next, oils are converted to fatty acids.
- Fatty acids formed are transformed into the required biodiesel.
- Lastly, acid catalyzation of oil takes place.
The preparation of biodiesel involves a chemical reaction for the production of the required product. The chemical reaction carried out to create the required biodiesel is called transesterification. Catalyzed transesterification is a widely used manufacturing process to create a fuel base. The reason for the use of transesterification is that it requires low pressure and temperature. The process is also economical and has 98% conversion output.
Production of Biodiesel
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Preparation of Biodisesel
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The step-by-step preparation of biodiesel is as follows:
- The transesterification process includes triglyceride mixed with alcohol to form esters and glycerol.
- Triglyceride contains a glycerol molecule and three long-chain fatty acids as its base.
- Later, triglyceride reacts with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst (like ethyl esters.) during the esterification process, and either sodium hydroxide or potassium catalyzes its base.
- The usual product of the transesterification process is Rape Methyl Ester (RME), which is produced from raw rapeseed oil reacted with methanol.
- The result of the reaction is glycerol and biodiesel.
- If the glycerol and ester are separated after the reaction time, the transesterification reaction is considered to be successful.
Benefits of Transesterification
The benefits of the transesterification in combustion are as follows:
- It has a lower viscosity rate.
- The transesterification process has lower flashpoints.
- The process has a lower boiling point.
- It has a lower pour point.
- The process successfully removes glycerides from biodiesel.
Preparation of Biodiesel
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Properties of Biodiesel
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The properties of biodiesel are as follows:
- The compound is highly miscible in water, which means it has a high boiling point.
- Biodiesel has low vapour pressure.
- The colour of the final compound ranges from golden to dark brown.
- It has a density of around ~0.88 g/cm3.
- The flash point value of biodiesel is higher than petroleum.
- The compound is highly lubricant and has high energy output.
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.88 g/cm3 |
| Calorific Value | 37.27 MJ/kg |
| Flash point | 130 °C (266 °F) |
| Melting Point | -35°C and +45°C |
| Molecular Mass | 294.86 kg kmol−1 |
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Benefits of Biodiesel
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Biodiesel has many advantages over conventional diesel. Some of these are discussed below.
- Biodiesel is considered to be carbon neutral; that is, it does not produce carbon in terms of CO2.
- The fuel is biodegradable and non-toxic, i.e., spillages represent far less risk than conventional diesel spillage.
- Another advantage includes having a higher flash point than conventional diesel, making it safer in the event of a crash.
- It has a lower exhaust emission rate than conventional diesel, making it reliable for longer usage.
- There is no need for any engine modifications to use biodiesel.
- Biodiesel reduces the lifecycle of greenhouse gases by 86%.
- It also reduces particulate matter by 47%, making the air healthier to breathe.
- The fuel also reduces the emission of hydrocarbons by 67%.
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Uses of Biodiesel
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Biodiesels have the following uses:
- The biodiesels are used to protect against corrosion.
- It is also used as a degreaser and parts cleaner.
- The compound is used to remove graffiti from chemicals.
- Biodiesel is used as a screen printing ink remover.
- Pilots in airplane industries prefer to use biodiesel as an alternative to aircraft fuel.
- It is used as domestic heating oil.
- The fuel is also considered an adhesive remover and is used as a mould-releasing agent.
- It is also used as an auto wax remover.
- Biodiesels are also used to clean oil spills as a bioremediation agent.
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|---|---|---|
| Green Revolution | Mutation | Micro Propagation |
| Single Cell Protein | Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production | Mutagens |
| Inbreeding Depression | Rice bacterial blight | Biofortification |
Things to Remember
- Biodiesel is a renewable and non-toxic fuel.
- The process involved in the production of biodiesel is called transesterification.
- Animal fats and vegetable oils are used for the manufacturing of diesel.
- Base-catalyzed transesterification of the oil is the widely used method for the production of the compound.
- The fuel is used as a degreaser and parts cleaner.
- It helps to clean oil spills as it has bioremediation properties.
- Pongamia is being used as a source of biodiesel in India.
Previous Year Questions
- The infectious stage of Plasmodium that enters the human body is...[NEET 2020]
- In higher vertebrates, the immune system can distinguish self-cells and non-self. If this property is lost due to genetic abnormally and it attacks self-cells, then it leads to..[NEET 2016]
- Which of the following is a pair of viral diseases?..[NEET 2009]
- In which disease does mosquito transmitted pathogen cause chronic inflammation of lymphatic vessels ?..[NEET 2018]
- A person likely to develop tetanus is immunized by administering :...[NEET 2009]
- A person suffering from a disease caused by Plasmodium, experiences recurring chills and fever at the time when...[NEET 2010]
- Match the following diseases with the causative organism and select the correct option….[NEET 2020]
- Antibodies in our body are complex-...[NEET 2006]
- Antigens are present...[NEET 1995]
- Green revolution in India occurred during….[Neet 2012]
- Haploid plants can be obtained by culturing...[Neet 1994]
- High milk yielding varieties of cows are obtained by….[Neet 1997]
- Homozygous purelines in cattle can be obtained by...[Neet 2017]
- Life span of a worker bee is...[Neet 1999]
- "Jaya" and "Ratna" developed for green revolution in India are varieties of...[Neet 2011]
- In vitro clonal propagation in plants is characterized by...[Neet 2014]
- Hybridoma cells are...[Neet 1999]
- By which of the following methods, new and better varieties of plants can be formed?…[Neet 2015]
- A protoplast is a cell...[WBJEE 2009]
- A technique of micropropagation is...[Neet 2015]
Sample Questions
Ques. Which one is being used as a source of biodiesel in the Indian countryside? (1 Mark)
(A) Beetroot
(B) Sugarcane
(C) Pongamia
(D) Euphorbia
Ans. C) Pongamia
Explaination: Pongamia can produce around 10,000 to 40,000 rich oil seeds per tree and is found along the banks of rivers or near the sea coast on the tidal forest.
Ques. _______________ is the major component of gas? (1 Mark)
(a) CO3 and H2.
(b) CH2 and H2.
(c) CH4 and CO2.
(d) CO2 and SO2.
Ans. (c) CH4 and CO2.
Explaination:
As the name suggests, gas or natural gas is made up of various hydrocarbons like methane, ethane, propane and butane. Around 70% of gas is formed by methane, which is the major component in the process.Ques. Out of the listed options, which one is an example of fossil fuel? (1 Mark)
(a) Alcohol.
(b) Gobar gas.
(c) Petrol.
(d) Hydrogen.
Ans. (c) Petrol
Explaination: Petrol is a naturally occurring fossil fuel which is a yellowish colour liquid which is made up of hydrocarbons. The petrol is extracted by the process of drilling, which is later refined by the process of distillation.
Ques. chemical component added with petrol in automobiles is __________ (1 Mark)
(a) Ethanol.
(b) Methanol.
(c) Propanol.
(d) Butanol.
Ans. (a) Ethanol.
Explaination: Ethanol is an organic compound produced by the process of fermentation. In the preparation of petrol, 20 per cent ethanol is added to the petrol. Governments are implementing schemes for blending of ethanol with petrol.
Ques. What is available in limited quantities in nature? (1 Mark)
Ans. Natural resources are available in limited quantities in nature. With the increase in the population, the demand for natural resources increases, resulting in resource depletion.
Ques. Which energy is obtained from biological factors? (1 Mark)
Ans. Non-renewable sources of energy are obtained from the biological factors. It is also produced through natural processes such as nuclear reactions in the Earth’s core. It includes fossil fuels like coal, crude oil and natural gas.
Ques. Which product is obtained by the process of fermentation of organic compounds by bacteria? (1 Mark)
Ans. Gobar gas is obtained by the process of fermentation of organic compounds by bacteria. It is also popular with the name biogas and is obtained from raw materials like manure, sewage, agricultural waste and municipal waste.
Ques. How much percentage of CO2 is present in Gobar gas? (1 Mark)
Ans. 31 per cent of CO2 is present in Gobar gas. The primary components in the preparation include carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulphide and siloxanes.
Ques. What is Biodiesel? (1 Mark)
Ans. Biodiesel is an alternative to conventional diesel made from vegetable oil/animal oil, etc, and alcohol. It is made up of a long chain of fatty acid esters. The compound is considered as an alternative to conventional diesel.
Ques. Does biodiesel contain petroleum? (1 Mark)
Ans. No biodiesel does not contain petroleum, but it can be blended to create a biodiesel blend. The process by which biodiesel is blended includes a hydrocarbon blend, which can later be used in the marketplace.
Ques. What is a biodiesel Blend? (1 Mark)
Ans. When biodiesel is mixed or blended with petroleum, the biodiesel becomes a biodiesel blend. The most common biodiesel blend includes B5, B20 and B100. It is blended with hydrocarbon-based diesel.
Ques. What are the uses of Biodiesel? (3 Marks)
Ans. The uses of biodiesel are as follows:
- Biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel.
- It has corrosion-resistant substances.
- The compound can be used as an adhesive remover.
- It is used as a screen printing ink remover.
- The fuel is used in cleaning oil spills.
Ques. Are there any modifications required in an engine to use Biodiesel? (1 Mark)
Ans. There is no need for any kind of modification in engines.
Ques. Is biodiesel a sustainable product? (2 Mark)
Ans. Yes, biodiesel reduces the lifecycle of greenhouse gases by 86%. It also reduces particulate matter by 47%, making the air healthier to breathe. Biodiesel also reduces the emission of hydrocarbons by 67%.
Ques. What are the benefits of using biodiesel? (3 marks)
Ans. The benefits of using biodiesel are as follows:
- It is considered to be carbon neutral as it does not produce carbon.
- The compound is conventional in nature, which makes it safer in terms of crashes.
- Biodiesel helps in the reduction of hydrocarbons by 67%.
- It also reduces the emission of greenhouse gases by 86%.
- The emission rate of biodiesel is less and considered non-toxic.
Ques. What are the benefits of using the transesterification process? 3 marks)
Ans. The benefits of using the transesterification process are as follows:
- The process of transesterification has a lower viscosity rate.
- It has lower flashpoints.
- It has a lower boiling point and melting point.
- The transesterification has a lower pour point.
- The process is suitable for the removal of glycerides from biodiesel.
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