A review of different biodiesel production methods, conditions, raw materials and technologies

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 PhD Student in Renewable Energy, Department of Biosystem, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Biosystem, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

The use of renewable energy sources is important today due to the reduction of fossil fuel sources and the increase in environmental pollution. Biodiesel is one of the types of renewable energies. By 2020, 20% of the fuel used is from renewable sources, Biodiesel is one of the most important strategies to complete these choices and achieve the goal. Biodiesel as biofuel can be used in diesel engines in combination with pure diesel and thus improves combustion conditions and reduces emissions. Biodiesel is produced from different biomass in different ways and processes, this depends on the potential of the area in question and the availability of bio-resources. On the other hand, the technology used in biodiesel production is also important. Given the technology and biomaterials used to produce biodiesel, economic cost and production efficiency will be achieved. Therefore, in the face of increasing demand for biodiesel production, it is important to provide a suitable way to commercialize the biodiesel production process. In this regard, different methods of biodiesel production from different sources are investigated in this research, in order to find the appropriate method for achieving a biodiesel production process. Based on the results of this study, biodiesel production depends on the conditions and availability of primary biofuels, but in general biodiesel production from non-food sources with alkali catalysts are of commercial importance in the process of trans-esterification; this method produces high-efficiency biodiesel (about 98%) and is economically superior to other methods.

Keywords


[1]     Hama S, Hideo N and Kondo A. (2018), “How lipase technology contributes to evolution of biodiesel production using multiple feedstocks,” Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 50: 57-64.
[2]     Knothe, G and Dunn, R, O. (2001), “Biofuels derived from vegetable oils and fats,”  in Oleochemical Manufacture and Applications, eds. F D Gunstone and R J Hamilton Sheffield Academic Press, UK, 106–63.
[3]     Knothe G, Krahl J and Van Gerpen J (2005), “The Biodiesel Handbook,”AOCS Press Champaign, Illinois.
[4]     Demirbas A (2009), “Biofuels: securing the planet’s future energy needs,” Springer, Greenenergy and technology, 336, 71.
[5]     Mittelbach M (2009), “Process technologies for biodiesel production,” in Biofuels, eds. W Soetart and E J Vandamme, John Wiley & Sons, UK, 77–93.
[6]     Mittelbach M and Koncar M (1994), “Process of Preparing Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters,” European Patent EP0708813B1.
[7]     Van Hoed V, Zyaykina N, De Greyt W, Maes J and Verhe R (2008), “Identification and occurrence of steryl glucosides in palm and soy biodiesel,”  Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 85, 701–9.
[8]     Mittelbach M and Remschmidt C (2004), Biodiesel – The Comprehensive Handbook, Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria.
[9]     Mladenović N D, Kiss F, Škrbić B, Tomić M, Mićić R and Predojević Z. (2017), “Current state of the biodiesel production and the indigenous feedstock potential in Serbia,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 81: 280-291. 
[10]   Diesel R (1912), ‘The diesel oil-engine,” Engineering, 93, 395–406.
[11]   Chavanne C G (1937), “Procede de Transformation d`Huiles Vegetales en Vue de Leur Utilisation comme Carburants,” Belgian Patent 422 887; Chemical Abstract, 32, 4313 (1938).
[12]   Vávra A, Hájeka M, Skopal F. (2018), “Acceleration and simplification of separation by addition of inorganic acid in biodiesel production,”Journal of Cleaner Production, 192: 390-395.
[13]   Bailer J. and De Hueber K (1991), “Determination of saponifiable glycerol in biodiesel,” Fresenius Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 340, 186, Chemical Abstract, 115, 73906 (1991).
[14]   Milke (2009), Global Supply, Demand and Price Outlook of Oils & Fats, 2nd International Congress on Biodiesel, Munich, Germany, 15–17 November.
[15]   Haas M J, McAloon A J, Yee W C and Foglia T A (2006), “A process model to estimate biodiesel production costs,”  Bioresource Technology, 97, 671–678.15
[16]   Gebremariam S N, Marchetti J M. (2018), “Economics of biodiesel production: Review,” Energy Conversion and Management, 168: 74-84.
[17]   Shu Q, Tang G, Lesmana H, Zou L and Xiong D. (2017), “Preparation, characterization and application of a novel solid Brönsted acid catalyst SO42−/La3+/C for biodiesel production via esterification of oleic acid and methanol,” Renewable Energy, 119: 253-261.
[18]   Hosseinzadeh Bandbafha  H, Tabatabaei M, Aghbashloa M, Khanali M, Demirbas A. (2018), “A comprehensive review on the environmental impacts of diesel/biodiesel additives,” Energy Conversion and Management, 174: 579-614.
[19]   O’Brien R, Farr W and Wan P (2000), “Introduction to Fats and Oils Technology,” AOCS Press, Champaign, Illinois, 618.
[20]   Ambata I, Srivastava V and Sillanpää M. )2018(, “Recent advancement in biodiesel production methodologies using various feedstock: A review,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 90: 356-369.
[21]   EeTang Z, Lim S, LingPang Y, ChyuanOng H and TeongLee K. (2018),“Synthesis of biomass as heterogeneous catalyst for application in biodiesel production: State of the art and fundamental review,”  Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 92: 235-253.
[22]   Mittelbach M and Trathnigg B (1990), “Kinetics of alkaline-catalyzed methanolysis of sunflower,” European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 92(4), 145–8.
[23]   Gutsche B (1997), “Technology of methyl ester production and its application to biofuels,” Fett Lipid, 99, 418–27.
[24]   Monteiro M R, Kugelmeier C L, SanaiottePinheiro R, OtávioBatalhad M and Silva Césare A. (2018), “Glycerol from biodiesel production: Technological paths for sustainability,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 88: 109-122.
[25]   Haas M J, Scott K M, Foglia T A and Marmer W N (2007), “The general applicability of insitu transesterification for the production of fatty acid esters from a variety of feedstocks,”  Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 84(10), 963–70.
[26]   Georgogianni K G, Kontominas M G, Pomonis P J, Avlonitis D and Gergis V (2008), “Alkaline conventional and in situ transesterification of cottonseed oil for the production of biodiesel,”  Energy Fuels, 22(3), 2110–15.
[27]   Portnoff M A, Purta D A, Nasta M A, Zhang J and Pourarian F (2006), “Methods for producing biodiesel,” WO/2006/002087.
[28]   Boocock D G, Konar S K, Mao V, Lee C and Buligan S. (1998), “Fast formation of high-Purity methyl esters from vegetable oils,” Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, 75(9), 1167-72.
[29]   TiwariV A, Rajesh M and Yadav S. (2018), “Biodiesel production in micro-reactors: A review,” Energy for Sustainable Development, 43: 143-161.
[30]   Wyatt V T and Haas M J (2009), “Production of fatty acid methyl esters via the in situ transesterification of soybean oil in carbon dioxide-expanded methanol,” Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 86, 1009–16.
[31]   Ding H, Ye W, Wang Y, Wang X, Li L, Liu D, Gui J, Song C and Ji N. (2017), “Process intensification of transesterification for biodiesel production from palm oil: Microwave irradiation on transesterification reaction catalyzed by acidic imidazolium ionic liquids,” Energy, 144: 957-967.
[32]   Breccia A, Esposito B, Fratadocchi G B and Fini A (1999), “Reaction between methanol and commercial seed oils under microwave irradiation,” Journal of Microwave Power Elecromagnetic Energy, 34, 3-8.
[33]   Soragna F (2008), “Alternative routes to process low quality raw materials to produce biodiesel,” Presentation at 3rd Annual Biofuel Meeting, October 28–30, Berlin, Germany.
[34]   Zhang Y, Dube M, McLean D and Kates M (2003), “Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil: 2 Economic assessment and sensitivity analyses,” Bioresource Technology, 90, 229–40.
[35]   Al-Widyan M I and Al-Shyoukh A O (2002). “Experimental evaluation of the transesterification of waste palm oil into biodiesel,” Bioresource Technology, 85(3): 253-6.
[36]   Canacki M and Van Gerpen J (1999), “Biodiesel production via acid catalysis, Trans ASAE, 42(5), 1203-10.
[37]   Nye M, Williamson T, Desphande S, Schrader J, Snively W and Yurkewich T (1983), “Conversion of used frying oil to diesel fuel by transesterification: Preliminary tests,”  Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 60, 1598–601.
[38]   Canacki M and Van Gerpen J (2003), “A pilot plant to produce biodiesel from high free fatty acid feedstocks,” Transactions of the ASAE, 46(4), 945-54.
[39]   Issariyakul T, Kulkarni M G, Dalai A K and Bakhshi N N (2007), “Production of biodiesel from waste fryer grease using mixed methanol/ethanol system,” Fuel ProcessingTechnology, 88(5), 429–36.
[40]   Kirubakaran M, Mozhi Selvan A. (2017), “A comprehensive review of low cost biodiesel production from waste chicken fat,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 82: 390-401.
[41]   Verhe R, Van Hoed V, Echim C, Stevens C, De Greyt W and Kellens M (2008), “Production of biofuel from lipids and alternative resources,”  in Biocatalysis and Bioenergy, eds. C T Hou and S Jei-Fu, Wiley & Sons, UK, 185–94.
[42]   Verhe R, Echim C, Stevens C V, Van Hoed V, De Grey W and Zyaykina N (2009), “Valorization of alternative lipid resources for bioenergy,”  First International Conference on Renewable Resources and Biorefineries, Ghent, June 10–12.
[43]   Di Serio M, Tesser R, Pengmei L and Santacesaria E (2008), “Heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production,” Energy & Fuels, 22(1), 207–17.
[44]   Lotero E, Goodwin Y G, Bruce D, Suwannakaran K, Liu Y and Lopez D E (2006), “The catalysis of biodiesel synthesis,”  Catalysis, 19, 41–84.
[45]   www.amberlyst.com/biodieselsolutions.htm.
[46]   Bournay L, Casanave D, Delfort B, Hillion G and Chodorge J A (2005), “New heterogeneous process for biodiesel production: A way to improve the quality and the value of the crude glycerin produced by biodiesel plants, Catalysis Today,” International Conference on Gas-Fuel. 106(1-4), 190-2.
[47]   Catalin Inc. (2009), “A solid catalyst unlike the rest, Biodiesel Magazine, Edition from July.
[48]   Bonelli B, Cozzolino M, Tesser M, Di Serio M, Piumetti M, Garrone E and Santacesaria E (2007). “Study of the surface acidity of Tio2/Sio2 catalysts by means of FTIR measurements of CO and NH3 adsorption,” Journal of catalysis. 246(2), 293-300.
[49]   Ozgul-Yucel S and Turkay S (2002), “Variables affecting the yields of methyl esters derived from in situ esterification of rice bran oil,”  Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 79, 611–13.
[50]   Siler-Marinkovic S and Tomasevic A (1998), “Transesterification of sunflower oil in situ,” Fuel, 77(12), 1389–91.
[51]   Cooking oils (WCO): Role of ion-exchange resin,” Fuel, 87, 1789–98.
[52]   Qian J, Wang F, Liu S and Yun Z (2008), “In situ alkaline transesterification of cottonseed oil for production of biodiesel and nontoxic cottonseed meal,”  Bioresource Technology, 99(18), 9009–12.
[53]   Demirbas A (2002), “Diesel fuel from vegetable oil via transesterification and soap pyrolysis,” Energy Sources, 24, 835–41.
[54]   Demirbas A (2003), “Biodiesel fuels from vegetable oils via catalytic and non-catalytic supercritical alcohol transesterifications and other methods,” A survey,” Energy Conversion Management, 44(13), 2093–109.
[55]   Madras G, Kolluru C and Kumar R (2004), “Synthesis of biodiesel in supercritical fluids,” Fuel, 83(14–15), 2029–33.
[56]   Demirbas A (2008), “The importance of bioethanol and biodiesel from biomass,” Energy Sources, Part B, 3, 177–85.
[57]   Ishikawa T, Yamazaki R, Inamato S and Sagara Y (2005), “Economic assessment on practical application of non-catalytic alcoholysis for biodiesel fuel production,”  Japan Journal of Food Engineering, 6, 113–20.
[58]   Imakara H, Minami E, Hari S and Saka S (2008), “Thermal stability of biodiesel in supercritical methanol,” Fuel, 87, 1–6.
[59]   Demirbas A (2007), “Thermal degradation of fatty acids in biodiesel production by supercritical methanol,” Energy exploration & exploitation, 25(1), 63–70.
[60]   Imakara H, Xin Y and Saka S (2009), “Effect of CO2/N2 addition to supercritical methanol on reactivities and fuel qualities in biodiesel production,” Fuel, 88(7), 1329–32.
[61]   Aimareti N, Manuale D L, Mazzieri V M, Vera C R and Yori J C (2009), “Batch study of glycerol decomposition in one-stage superitical production of biodiesel,” Energy and fuels, 23: 1076-80.
[62]   www.axens.net, Esterfip-H™ A Breakthrough in Biodiesel Production.
[63]   Taherkhani M and Sadrameli S M. (2017), “An improvement and optimization study of biodiesel production from linseed via in-situ transesterification using a co-solvent,” Renewable Energy, 119: 787-794.
[64]   Suarez P, Rubim Y and Alves M (2008), “New catalytic systems for vegetable oil transesterification based on tin compounds,”  in Biocatalysis and Bioenergy, eds. C T Hou and J F, Shaw, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, 97–105.
[65]   Erhan S, Dunn R, Knothe G and Moser R (2008), “Fuel properties and performance of biodiesel,”  in Biocatalysis and Bioenergy, eds. C T Hou and J F Shaw, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, 1–45.
[66]   Knothe G, Van Gerpen J and Krahl (2005), “Fuel properties,” in The Biodiesel Handbook Edition, AOCS Press, Champaign, Illinois, 84–162.