BIODIESEL IS A POTENTIAL FUTURE FUEL IN INDIA

M.PAVAN KUMAR G.NAGA PRAVEEN KUMAR

pavan198807@gmail.com gnpraveen16@gmail.com

Department of chemical engineering,

Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.

ABSTRACT:

Biodiesel is non toxic and environmental friendly as it produces substantially less carbon monoxide
and 100% less sulphur dioxide emissions with no unburnt hydrocarbons and thus it is ideal fuel for
heavily polluted cities. It reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates and air toxicity. Due to its
less polluting combustion, biodiesel provides a 90% reduction in cancer risks and neonatal defects.
Biodiesel is biodegradable and renewable by nature. Biodiesel can be used alone or mixed in any ratio
with conventional diesel. The preferred ratio of mixture ranges between 5 and 20%. Biodiesel extends
the life of diesel engines and it could be cheaper than conventional diesel. It also has good potential
for rural employment generation.

In 1970, scientists discovered that the viscosity of vegetable oils could be reduced by a simple
chemical process and that it could perform as diesel fuel in modern engine. Since then the technical
developments have come a long way and the plant oil today has been highly established as biofuel,
equivalent to diesel. Recent environmental and economic concerns have prompted resurgence in the
use of biodiesel throughout the world. In 1991, the European community proposed a 90% tax
reduction for the use of biofuels , including biodiesel. Today 21 countries worldwide produce
biodiesel. India is one of the largest petroleum consuming and importing countries. India imports
about 70% of its petroleum demands. The currents yearly consumption of diesel oil in India
approximately 40 million tonnes constituting about 40% of the total petro-product consumption.

Biodiesel derived from the oils and fats of plants like sunflower, rape seeds, canola or jatropha curcas,
can be used as substitute or an additive to diesel. As an alternative fuel biodiesel can provided power
similar to conventional diesel fuel and thus can be used in diesel engines. Biodiesel is a renewable
liquid in diesel engines. Biodiesel is a renewable liquid fuel that can be produced locally thus helping
reduce the country’s dependence on imported crude.

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Production of bio-fuel from plant material is a major step toward harnessing one of the world’s most
prevalent, yet least utilized renewable energy resources. A break through process for converting
biomass into biodiesel fuel promises a cheaper way to go green. Eco dreamers have long been hoping
for a way to mitigating the global warming. But the slow pace of progress in alternative fuel
technologies has prevented that vision from materializing. Ethanol the most popular and commercial
biofuel has long refined out of plant matter, but it requires the costly, energy intensive step of
distilling every molecule of water out of the solution. In contrast the biodiesel process is based on
aqueous phase reactions which does not to go through the expensive distillation phase. As the process
is exothermic, there is a need for distillation which needs a lot of energy. The resulting biodiesel has
almost the same chemical structure as traditional diesel and burns the same way in diesel engines.

The leading oil companies in the world are currently looking forward to tap the excellent business
opportunity offered by biodiesel. If the developed process is scaled up to commercial level by more
and more oil companies, it could be a major step towards the creation of an eco friendly transportation
fuel that is relatively clean on combustion and provides farmers with substantial income.

INTRODUCTION:

Biodiesel is a cleaner burning diesel replacement fuel made from natural renewable sources such as
new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel operates in
compression ignition engines. Blends of up to 20% biodiesel can be used in nearly all diesel
equipment and are compatible with most storage and distribution equipment. The low level blends
generally don’t require any engine modifications. Higher blends, even pure biodiesel may be able to
be used in some engines with little or no modifications.

Using biodiesel in a conventional diesel substationally reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons,

carbon monoxide, sulphates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrated polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, and particulate matters. These reductions increase as the amount of biodiesel blended
into diesel fuel increases. The best emission reductions are seen with B100.

The use of biodiesel decreases the solid carbon fraction of particulate matter and reduces the sulphate
fraction, while the soluble or hydrocarbon, fractions stays the same or increases. Therefore biodiesel
works well with emission controls technologies such as diesel oxidation catalysts ( which reduce the
soluble fraction of diesel participate but not the solid carbon fraction).

Emissions of nitrogen oxides increases with the concentration of biodiesel in the fuel and the
increases is roughly 2% for B20. Some biodiesel produces more nitrogen oxides than others, and

some additives have shown promise in reducing the increases. More R &D is needed to resolve this
issue.

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Biodiesel has physical properties very similar to conventional diesel.

Property of biodiesel Unit EURO standard EN14214

Density at 150c g/cc 0.86-0.9
Viscosity at 400c Mm2/sec 3.5-5
Flash point C Min 120
Total sulphur mg/kg Max 100
Conradson (ccr) % mass -
At 100% Max 0.3
At 10%
Cetane number Min 51
Sulphated ash content % mass Max 0.02
Water content mg/kg Max 500
Total contamination mg/kg Max24
Copper corrosion (3hrs 50 c) Degree of corrosion 1
Neutralision value mg Max 0.5
Oxidation stability Hr Min 6
Methanol content % mass Max 0.2
Easter content % mass Max 96.5
Monoglycerides % mass Max 0.8
Diglycerides % mass Max 0.2
Triglycerides % mass Max 0.2
Free glycerine % mass Max 0.02
Total glycerine % mass Max 0.25
Iodine value % mass Max 120
Linolenic acid % mass Max 12
Polyunsaturated(>=4db) % mass Max 1

SOURCES OF UCO:

Biodiesel can be produced from utilized cooking oil (UCO) which arises in both industrial food
processing locations, hotels, restaurants, fast food outlets and canteens in both public and private
sector organizations. UCO is also generated at home and there is little provided for separate collection
of this oil although an increasing number of local authorities are now providing drop off points at
their civic Amenity sites. This source of UCO is not well connected with the rest of the market since it
has always been difficult to collect such small disparate amounts that are unpredictable in both
quality and quantity. The producers of UCO have a choice of disposal. When it is poured down the
drain, this can eventually lead to problems with blockages. Producers can also empty the UCO
containers and place with their solid waste collection. This can arrange for it to be collected by their
fresh oil supplier or another dedicated waste oil collector. Some may even find some other beneficial
use for it with in their business such as small scale biodiesel production.

COLLECTION AND TREATMENT:

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Fresh oil suppliers: Contractors and wholesale or retail establishments that supply fresh vegetable oil
for cooking and production.

UCO Collectors: Those contractors who collect generally by returnable containers and may also be
the fresh oil supplier.

UCO Processor: Business that receive the UCO and process it to enhance the values generally sieving
the particles, heating to remove water and segregating to obtain various recovered qualities with
different specific gravity.

UCO Blenders: Businesses that take the various recovered oils from the processors to blend into
products for which they have a demand.

BIODIESEL PRODUCTION:

Biodiesel fuel can be made from new or used vegetable oils and animal’s fats, which are nontoxic,
biodegradable, renewable resources. Fats and oils are chemically reacted with an alcohol (methanol is
the usual choice) to produce chemical compounds known as fatty acid methyl esters. Biodiesel is the
name given to these esters when they are intended for use as fuel. Glycerol (used in pharmaceuticals
and cosmetics, among other markets) is produced as a co-product. Biodiesel can be produced by a

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variety of esterification technologies. The oils and fats are filtered and pre-processed to remove water
and contaminants. If free fatty acids are present, they can be removed or transformed into biodiesel
using special pre-treatment technologies.

The pre-treated oils and fats are then mixed with an alcohol (usually methanol) and a catalyst (usually
NaOH). The oils molecules (triglycerides) are broken apart and reformed into methyl esters and
glycerol, which are then separated from each other and purified. The methanol is charged in excess to
assist in quick conversion and recovered for reuse.

There are three basic routes to ester production from oils and fats.

• Base catalyzed transesterification of the oil with alcohol.

• Direct acid catalyzed esterification of the oil with methanol.

• Conversion of the oil fatty acids and then to alkyl esters with acid catalysis.

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The majority of the alkyl esters produced today are done with base catalyzed reaction because it is the
most economic for several reasons.

• Low – temperature (150F) and pressure (20PSI) processing.

• High conversion (98%) with minimal side reaction and reaction time.

• Direct conversion to methyl ester with no intermediate steps.

• Exotic materials of construction are not necessary.

BIODIESEL BENEFITS:

Because little fossil energy is require to move biodiesel, it is a substitute or extender for traditional
petroleum diesel, and special pumps or high –pressure equipment for fueling are not needed. In
addition, it can be used in conventional diesel engines, so special vehicles or engines to run biodiesel
don’t need to be purchased. However, users should always consult with the OEM and engine warranty
statement before using biodiesel. Scientists believe carbon dioxide is one of the main greenhouse
gases contributing to global warming. Neat biodiesel (100% biodiesel) reduces carbon dioxide
emission by more than 75% over petroleum diesel. Using a blend of 20% biodiesel reduces carbon
monoxide, and sulphur dioxide emissions (all air pollutants under the CLEAN AIR ACT). Since
biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines, the renewable fuel can directly replace
petroleum products, reducing the country’s dependence on imported oil. Biodiesel offers safety
benefits over petroleum diesel because it is much less combustible, with a flash point greater than
1500c, compared to 770c for petroleum diesel. It is safe to handle, store and transport.

BIODIESEL FUEL MARKET:

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The use of biodiesel has grown dramatically during the last few years. The ENERGY POLICY ACT
was amended by the Energy Conservation Reauthorization Act of 1998 to include biodiesel fuel use
as a way for federal, state , and public utility fleets to meet requirements for using alternative fuels.
Pure biodiesel (B100) is considered an alternative fuel under EP Act. Lower –level biodiesel blends
are not considered alternative fuels, but covered fleets can earn one EP Act credit for every 450
gallons B100 purchased for use in blends of 20% or higher. That amendment started the sharp
increase in the number of biodiesel users, which now include the U.S. postal service and the U.S
Departments of Defense, Energy and Agriculture. Countless school districts, transit authorities,
national parks, public utility companies, and garbage and recycling companies also use the fuel.
Currently, there is a biodiesel tax incentive that is a federal tax credit. The credit equates to a one
penny per percent of biodiesel in fuel blend made from agricultural products like vegetable oils, and
one- half penny per percent for recycled oils. This incentive is taken by petroleum distributors and
passed on to consumers. The USDA developed a study that estimated this incentive would increase
the demand for biodiesel to at least 124 million gallons per year. And depending on other factors,
including crude oils prices, the industry projects that demand could be much higher.

Feed stock costs account for a large percentage of the direct biodiesel production costs, including
capital cost and return. It takes about 7.3 pounds of soybean oil, which costs about 20 cents per
pound, to produce a gallon of biodiesel. Feed stocks cost alone therefore, are at least $1.5 per gallon
of soy biodiesel. Fats and greases cost less and produce less expensive biodiesel, sometimes as low as
$1.00 per gallon. The quality of the fuel is equivalent to soy biodiesel fuel.

Current biomass oil supplies available for energy use

Biomass oils Million lbs/year Million gal oil per Million gal B 100 per
year year
Soy 2250 292 304
Corn 1130 147 153
Sunflower 465 60 63
Canola 000 00 00
Cottonseed 140 18 19
Pea nut 18 2 2
Safflower 37 5 5
Linseed 135 18 18
Edible tallow 465 60 63
Lard 85 11 11
Inedible tallow and 2837 368 383
greases
Other fats and oils 399 52 54
Poultry fat 221.5 29 30
Fish oils 27.9 4 4
Yellow grease 406 53 55
Trap grease 3808 495 514

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Total biomass oils 13424 1614 1677

CONCLUSION:

Today, the utilization of vehicles on the roads have been increased, hence the pollution caused by the
vehicles is increased. The level of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and other oxides in the atmosphere
are increased. The cost of diesel is being increased due to imported charges etc. This will cause
burden to the common man. The utilization of biofuel reduces the pollution and cost of biodiesel is
very much in the range of common man. The leading oil companies are currently looking forward to
tap the excellent business opportunity offered by biodiesel. If the developed process is scaled up to
commercial levels by more and more oil companies. It could be a major step towards the creation of
an eco-friendly transportation fuel that is relatively clean on combustion and provides farmers with
substantial income. The technologies available for biological conversion of cellulosic biomass to
biodiesel enjoy a high potential to succeed in the commercial marketplace. India, with its huge
waste\non-fertile lands, has taken a well noted lead in the area and commercial production is where
the industries have to focus on for self sustainable development. India’s biodiesel programme has
been based on jatropha seeds only but for reduced operating cost a multiple feedstock – based strategy
is needed.

REFERENCES:

• Biodiesel : Technology & Business opportunities -----An Insight S Biswas , N Kaushik &
G.Srikanth

• “ Entrepreneurs vision and dilemma” on biofuels ----by NATURAL BIO-ENERGY

LIMITED.

• BiodieselNow.com www.wnbiodiesel.com

• www.eere.energy.gov/altfuel/biodiesel.html

• http.//www.biodiesel.com