Bio-diesel Present Bio-diesel Present Situation and Situation and

Development ProspectDevelopment Prospect

Tao DingTao Ding

What is biodieselWhat is biodiesel

• Alternative Fuel derived from plant oilAlternative Fuel derived from plant oil

• Contains no petroleum but be Contains no petroleum but be blended with petroleum dieselblended with petroleum diesel

• Produced domestically from Produced domestically from renewable resourcesrenewable resources

• No engine modification are necessaryNo engine modification are necessary

• Biodegradable, Nontoxic FuelBiodegradable, Nontoxic Fuel

Biodeisel EmissionsBiodeisel Emissions

• Compared to petroleum diesel, reduced Compared to petroleum diesel, reduced emission of:emission of:

--Unburned hydrocarbons--Unburned hydrocarbons

--Carbon monoxide--Carbon monoxide

--Particulate matter--Particulate matter

--Sulfur oxides--Sulfur oxides

• Overall ~50% less than that for diesel Overall ~50% less than that for diesel fuelfuel

Biodiesel ProductionBiodiesel Production

• TransesterificationTransesterification

--Chemical process which converts --Chemical process which converts vegetable oil into biodiesel and glycerolvegetable oil into biodiesel and glycerol

Process StepProcess Step

1.1. Clean and heat biolipid (WVO )Clean and heat biolipid (WVO )

2.2. Titration the WVO sample. (Optimal Titration the WVO sample. (Optimal PH7)PH7)

3.3. Mix the bioalcohol and catalyst in exact Mix the bioalcohol and catalyst in exact amountamount

4.4. Combine methanol/caustic with biolipid Combine methanol/caustic with biolipid at 50 C, mix and heat for several hoursat 50 C, mix and heat for several hours

5.5. Separate biodiesel and glycerol and Separate biodiesel and glycerol and remove alcoholremove alcohol

6.6. PurificationPurification

100 lbs. 100 lbs. of of

Soybean Soybean oil +10 oil +10

lbs lbs MethanolMethanol

==100 lbs. 100 lbs.

Soy Soy biodieselbiodiesel

+10 lbs of +10 lbs of GlycerolGlycerol

Efficiency and Economic Efficiency and Economic ArgumentsArguments

• According study of U.S Department According study of U.S Department of Energy, the biodiesel yields 3.2 of Energy, the biodiesel yields 3.2 units of fuel product energy for every units of fuel product energy for every unit fossil fuel energy consumed.unit fossil fuel energy consumed.

--Petroleum Diesel 0.843--Petroleum Diesel 0.843

--Petroleum Gasoline 0.805--Petroleum Gasoline 0.805

Some Research for Biodiesel Some Research for Biodiesel SourceSource

• Traditional plants can not satisfy the Traditional plants can not satisfy the energy requirement of the worldenergy requirement of the world

• A species of algae with oil content of A species of algae with oil content of 50% 50%

Utilize 0.3% land = All transportation EnergyUtilize 0.3% land = All transportation Energy

• Desert is the best place because the Desert is the best place because the high high

solar radiationsolar radiation

Questions ?Questions ?