Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel produced from organic matter (biomass) such as plants, animals, or waste materials.

Definition:

Biodiesel is a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) or fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) derived from:

1. Vegetable oils (soybean, canola, palm)

2. Animal fats (tallow, poultry)

3. Algal oils

4. Waste cooking oils

Production process:

1. Transesterification: reacting oils/fats with methanol/ethanol

2. Esterification: converting fatty acids into biodiesel

Characteristics:

1. Density: 0.85-0.90 g/cm³

2. Viscosity: 3.5-5.5 mm²/s (at 40°C)

3. Sulphur content: <0.001%

4. Flash point: 55-66°C

5. Cetane number: 45-60

Benefits:

1. Renewable energy source

2. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)

3. Lower sulphur content

4. Improved air quality

5. Domestic production reduces dependence on imported oil

Uses:

1. Transportation (diesel vehicles)

2. Industrial applications (generators, boilers)

3. Marine vessels (bunker fuel)

4. Agriculture (tractors, harvesters)

Types:

1. B100 (100% biodiesel)

2. B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel)

3. B5 (5% biodiesel, 95% petroleum diesel)

Standards:

1. ASTM D6751 (USA)

2. EN 14214 (Europe)

3. IS 15607 (India)

Challenges:

1. Higher production costs

2. Compatibility issues with existing infrastructure

3. Limited availability

4. Quality variability

Feedstocks:

1. Soybean oil

2. Canola oil

3. Palm oil

4. Animal fats

5. Algal oil

6. Waste cooking oil

Biodiesel production methods:

1. Transesterification

2. Esterification

3. Hydrogenation

4. Pyrolysis

Biodiesel blending:

1. B5 (5% biodiesel, 95% petroleum diesel)

2. B10 (10% biodiesel, 90% petroleum diesel)

3. B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel)