Biofuel

Biofuel is defined as solid, liquid or gaseous fuel derived from relatively recently biological material and is distinguished from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead biological material.

Biomass

Biomass is material derived from recently living organism. This includes plants, animals and their by-products Using waste biomass to produce energy can reduce the use of fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pollution and waste management problems.

Types of Biofuel
I) First generation biofuels

'First-generation biofuels' are biofuels made from sugar, starch,vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology. The basic feedstock for the production of first generation biofuels are often seeds or grains such as wheat, which yields starch that is fermented into bioethanol, or sunflower seeds, which are pressed to yield vegetable oil that can be used in biodiesel

The most common first generation biofuels are listed below. Vegetable oil: Edible vegetable oil is generally not used as fuel, but lower quality oil can be used for this purpose.

Biodiesel: Biodiesel is the most common biofuel in Europe. It is produced from oils or fats using transesterification. Bioalcohols: Biologically produced alcohols Alcohol Ethanol Propanol Butanol Biobutanol

Bioethers: Bioethers (also referred to as

fuel ethers or fuel ) are cost-effective compounds that act as octane enhancers.
Biogas: Biogas is produced by the process of anaerobic digestion of organic material by anaerobes Syngas: is produced by the combined processes of pyrolysis, combustion, and gasification. Biofuel is converted into carbon monoxide and energy by pyrolysis

Solid biofuels: wood, sawdust, grass cuttings, domestic refuse, charcoal, agricultural waste, non-food energy crops and dried manure

II) Second generation biofuels Second generation (2G) biofuels use biomass to liquid technology, including cellulosic biofuels from non food crops Ex. Cellulosic ethanol Cellulosic ethanol production uses non food crops or inedible waste products

III) Third generation biofuels

Algae fuel, also called oilgae or third generation biofuel, is a biofuel from algae.

Algae are low-input, high-yield feedstocks to produce biofuels. It produces 30 times more energy per acre than land crops such as soybeans.

IV) Fourth generation biofuels

An appealing fourth generation biofuel is based on the conversion of vegoil and biodiesel into gasoline. Synthetic Genomics is genetically engineering microorganisms to produce fuel directly from carbon dioxide on an industrial scale.

Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel derived from vegetable oil or animal fats that can be added to petroleum diesel as a blend or used on its own.

Biodiesel Samples

What is Biodiesel?

Alternative fuel for diesel engines Made from vegetable oil or animal fat Meets health effect testing Lower emissions, High flash point (>300F), Safer Biodegradable, Essentially non-toxic. Chemically, biodiesel molecules are mono-alkyl esters produced usually from triglyceride esters

FA

FA
FA
Vegetable Oil

FA
Biodiesel

Fatty Acid Alcohol Glycerin

Biodiesel and Petroleum

Biodiesel is a fuel that is produced from plant-based oils, and suitable for use in diesel engines only. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel because it is made from a renewable source like plants. Petroleum is a non-renewable fuel because it is made from a fossil source, a substance that is limited.

Todays Use of Biodiesel

Biodiesel makes up a tiny, but growing, fraction of diesel use in the US. Between 2004 and 2006, biodiesel use increased tenfold, from about 25 million gallons to 250 million gallons. Yet, as of 2007, biodiesel comprised less than one percent of total highway diesel fuel use.

Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel is produced from vegetable or fatty oils. These oils can be obtained from waste vegetable oil, like used cooking oils and restaurant grease. But it can also be made from raw virgin oils pressed from plants like soybeans, canola seeds, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds, safflower, jatropha, flax seed, palm oil, hemp seeds, and even algae. Rendered animal fats such as lard, tallow, and fish oil can also make biodiesel.

Advantages

Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning, safer alternative to petroleum diesel. It is as biodegradable as sugar, less toxic than salt, and less flammable than petroleum diesel. It is a fuel suitable for all diesel engines without modification.

Benefits of biodiesel

Improvement of rural economics Renewable Environmentally friendly Less toxic As biodegradable as sugar. Use without engine modification. Good engine performance. Less flammable than petroleum diesel. It produces more energy per unit than petroleum diesel. Ability to be blended with traditional petroleum-based diesel fuel. Studies have shown the biodiesel reduces engine Wear even in low blends, so it makes your engine last longer.

Benefits cont.

Biodiesel replaces the exhaust odor of petroleum diesel with a more pleasant smell of popcorn or French fries.

Biodiesel is nontoxic, biodegradable. It reduces the emission of harmful pollutants (mainly particulates) from diesel engines (80% less CO2 emissions, 100% less sulfur dioxide)

What is Biodiesel?

Alternative fuel for diesel engines Made from vegetable oil or animal fat Meets health effect testing Lower emissions, High flash point (>300F), Safer Biodegradable, Essentially non-toxic. Chemically, biodiesel molecules are mono-alkyl esters produced usually from triglyceride esters

FA

FA
FA
Vegetable Oil

FA
Biodiesel

Fatty Acid Alcohol Glycerin

Biodiesel can be used in existing Diesel Engines

Pure Biodiesel (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel (B20, BXX). Rudolf Diesel: peanut oil. Little or no engine modifications Use existing fuel distribution network. Available now

Scope For Biodiesel

Large market opportunity Alternative energy resource Integrated farming operations (plant tissue culture, produce for retail energy) Reduces dependence on middle east to some extent Puts income in the hands of farmer. Potential to revolutionalise value of marginal lands/water resource usage.

Biodiesel Raw Material Options

Food-based Sunflower Rapeseed Mustard Palm Others (Tallow, Soy) Non-food based Jatropa Karanja Waste grease and oils

Environmental Issues

Burning fossil fuels increases atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide Fossil fuels are a Biodiesels Closed Carbon Cycle finite resource

Environmental issues

Although biodiesels lifecycle emissions impact depends on the source and fuel blend, biodiesel can offer distinct environmental advantages over petroleum diesel fuel.

This increases prices and stimulates demand that farmers around the world respond to by bringing more land into cultivation. When biodiesel is made from recycled food oil or other waste products these land use considerations do not apply. Crops for biodiesel must be grown in a manner that supports wildlife habitat, minimizes soil erosion, avoids competition for food crops, and does not rely on the use of harsh chemicals and fertilizers.

In addition to land use, there is also some controversy over the emissions impact of fertilizer use and other land use practices (such as tillage practices). As a result, the estimated emissions from biodiesel can be expected to change as our understanding of the lifecycle improves.

Biodiesel Challenges

Cold Weather Operation (Chemistry) Producing enough feedstock oil to replace a large portion of petroleum (biology, chemistry, physics, economics) Engine and emissions optimization (chemistry, physics) Increased concerns about food vs. fuel Agricultural technology can-increase crop yields -develop dedicated biofuel crops

Alternative uses

Biodiesel as a cleaning solvent

used in oil lamps or torches.

Kerosene Heater

Diesel Generator

Small Scale Production of Biodiesel

How is biodiesel made?

Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products).

Small Scale Production of Biodiesel

Begin with a 1.50 Liter bottle of vegetable cooking oil. We will use a 2 liter Erlenmeyer flask and an electric heating element

TEMPERATURE

Pour the oil into the flask and turn the electric heater to low.

WARM UP OIL

Pour the oil into the flask and turn the electric heater to low.

TEMPERATURE

Using a thermometer bring the temperature to between 120 to 130F which is about 50C.

CREATION OF METHOXIDE: Methoxide is made from a mixture of methanol and lye (sodium hydroxide).

Preparation of Methoxide

Weigh out lye (NaOH): 5 gm in big bottle.

Be sure to be wearing goggles and gloves. Pour methanol into NaOH Continue adding methanol until the white bottle is about 3/4 full. Dissolve NaOH in the methanol.

Place Flask on Magnetic Stirrer

The flask can now be placed on the magnetic stirrer. Be sure to put the magnetic bar (also called magnetic flea) in the flask

Pour Methoxide into the oil

Open the flip-top and squirt it into the oil. (If using the larger bottle, it won't have a fliptop). Again be sure to be wearing goggles and gloves.

Add remaining methanol

Pour the remaining methanol into the flask containing the oil and methoxide. This extra methanol helps to convert more of the oil to biodiesel

STIR MIXTURE

Turn on the magnetic stirrer to mix the methoxide, methanol, and oil Stirring time is normally listed as 2 hours Keep eye on temperature and adjust the distance of the spotlight (or heat lamp) to keep temperature near the 120-130 degree Fahrenheit range

SEPARATORY FUNNEL

The pear-shaped glassware is called a separatory funnel because it is good for separating liquids that split into two layers. In the biodiesel process the methoxide reacts with the oil and makes two products. One is glycerin and the other is biodiesel. The glycerin will sink to the bottom. A separatory funnel makes it easier to drain off the glycerin

Pour Product into Separatory Funnel

Use a standard funnel to help get the mixture into the large separatory funnel. The separatory funnel will allow the glycerin to be easily drained out. Later when we add water, it will be easy to drain off the water.

LET glycerin SETTLE

In a few minutes the glycerin (also called glycerol) will begin to settle to the bottom of the separatory funnel. If there is no layer it means that the reaction did not take place.

DRAIN OFF glycerin

Turn the stopcock so the glycerin drains out. glycerin can be saved to be used for other purposes

DRAIN OFF glycerin(2):

Turn the stopcock so the glycerin drains out Glycerin can be saved to be used for other purposes.

DRAIN OFF glycerin

RECOVER METHANOL: At this point it is a good idea to recover the excess methanol. This is done with distillation

ADD WATER FOR WASHING

Now pour in tap water. About half a liter is good.

USE AIR PUMP TO MIX WATER AND BIODIESEL

WHAT TO DO IF EMULSION FORMS

To break up the emulsion, we add table salt to the mixture. About a half teaspoon is enough. Add the salt and mix it again by turning on the air pump for a few minutes. Turn on the air pump and let is sit. Usually the mixture will start separating in a few minutes.

ALLOW WATER TO SEPARATE

After the aquarium air pump mixes the mixture for about 3 minutes, you can turn off the pump and let the water and biodiesel separate.

DRAIN OFF WASH WATER

Drain off the water that was used to wash the biodiesel. Add some more water and wash the biodiesel a second time.

DRY THE BIODIESEL

After the wash water has been drained away, the biodiesel has traces of water in it. That water needs to be removed before the biodiesel can be used in an engine. What we see in the large flask is the final "liquid gold"; the biodiesel ready to be used in a diesel engine.