The Bombay Technologist

Green Technology: Overview on Biodiesel

Aarti P. More

Department of Surface Coating Technology

Keywords: Biodiesel, Transesterification, Supercritical Methods, Blending.

---

Abstract

Petroleum-derived diesel which is increasingly called as petrodiesel is generally used as liquid fuel in diesel engines. But it is obtained from crude oil which is one of the non-renewable source of energy and it is hazardous to the environment also due to emission of gases such as carbon monoxide during combustion. Because of its nonrenewable origin its sources are decreasing whereas its prices are increasing day by day so we have to search for an alternative which can be used as replacement for petrodiesel in future. One such alternative is Biodiesel which can directly replace petrodiesel. Biodiesel refers to vegetable oil or fat-based diesel fuel formed by tranesterification reaction and consisting of long oil alkyl esters mainly methyl esters. It is clean burning, biodegradable, non-toxic, environmental friendly. Jatropha is the main feedstock for biodiesel production. Currently biodiesel production is done by homogenous base catalysis reaction, but by new emerging technology for biodiesel production and its environmental friendly nature it will become one of the major energy source in future.