Chemistry Behind
Chemical Composition
BIODIESEL vs PETRODIESEL
Both biodiesel and petrodiesel molecules are similar with the only real difference between them being which the biodiesel has 2 Oxygen atoms on the right side of it compared to the petrodiesel molecule which does not.
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Benefit ?
Biofuels can burn much faster and will emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) compared to petro diesel which is a fossil fuel.
How do we produce Biofuels?
The processes used to produce biofuels :
1. Transesterification
2. Esterification
3 fatty acid acids and a glycerol molecule (shown in red) react with methanol (shown in blue). This will yield a mixture of fatty acid esters (shown in black and blue) that can be used as biodiesel as well as a glycerin molecule which can be removed for used in chemical applications, food processing, and other settings.
Transesterification
- It is a process in which fats and oils are converted into biodiesel and glycerin (A Co-product)
- It involves vegetable of animal fats and oils being reacted with short-chain alcohols (typically methanol or ethanol)
Esterification
- It is a process that involves separating glycerin from the animal fat or vegetable oil that is used as the feedstock which are then fed to acid or resin esterification process.
- Creates:
1. Methyl Esthers (Biodiesel fuel)
2. Glycerin (A useful by-product)
- The sulfuric acid (catalyst) is dissolved in methanol and then mixed with pretreated oil.
- Once the mixture is heated and stirred, the free fatty acids are converted to biodiesel