BIODIESEL is a clean burning alternate fuel. It is the name for a multiplicity of ester-based fuels (fatty esters) commonly defined as the monoalkyl esters made from vegetable oils, such as soybean oil, canola or hemp oil, or sometimes from animal fats through a simple process termed as transesterified. This renewable source is as capable as petroleum diesel in powering diesel engine without requirement of any modification.

Few important advantages of Biodiesel

• Biodiesel blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel can be used in diesel engines without any modification. It can also be used in neat form but may require certain engine modifications to keep away from maintenance and performance issues.
• It was stated that about half of the biodiesel industry can use recycled oil or fat, the other half being soybean, or rapeseed oil according to the origin of these feed stocks.
• Biodiesel is harmless, eco-friendly and biodegradable. It decreases the discharge of injurious pollutants (mainly particulates) from diesel engines (80% less CO2 emissions, 100% less sulfur dioxide.
• This fuel has a very high cetane number (above 100, compared to only 40 for diesel fuel). Cetane number is a measure of a fuel’s ignition excellence. The high cetane numbers of biodiesel assists to easy cold starting and low idle noise.
• The life of diesel engines is extended with the biodiesel, because it is more lubricating and additionally, power output is comparatively unaltered by biodiesel.
• This eco-friendly fuel substitutes the exhaust odor of petroleum diesel with a more pleasant smell of popcorn or French fries.

For more information you can refer our other article on Biodiesel.

The Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai, India, disclosed its patented technology for creation of bio-diesel from vegetable oil.

This technology foresees manufacturing of bio-diesel by a unique catalytical trans-esterification process of vegetable oils, that was developed by the CLRI Chemical Engineering Department scientists. Not only this but also this biodiesel manufacturing process produces glycerol as the by-product, which has vast industrial application.

As we all know quality and technology comes at a price, so is the case with this unique technique. The technology transfer documents were handed over to S P Velayutham, Chairman, Vel Bio-diesel Energy, who bought the technology for Rs 89.88 lakh.

The properties of the bio-diesel had been investigated by Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun and a test run of 26,000 kms was conducted by the Anna University, CLRI has obtained patent for the technology.

Vel Bio-diesel Energy shall setup the first unit using this technology near Tiruchirapalli. The company would soon open units across different parts of the country

By developing methods to use cheap and low quality lipids as feedstocks, it is hoped that a cheaper biodiesel can be produced, thus competing economically with petroleum resources.