Prepared  by

Why You Should Pay for

A Brief Introduction to Biodiesel

by Tommy Yuan

(Cover photo form Delia Health, 2014)

memoTo: Debbie L. Rolfes From: Tommy Yuan Date : 05 NOV 2014 Re: The importance of knowing and starting to using biodiesel.

First, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to write this report, and, for sure, both of us can know more about this incredible biofuel. Also, I want to thank Kun, my best friend and a great roommate, for doing editing of this report.

Petroleum era will be end soon, although people cannot even live without it. So, the situation is urgent, we need a suitable substitute for oil, which is sustainable but can still perform the same function as petroleum. Biodiesel, a biofuel which can replace the diesel fuel, is the one meets the requirements, and it should be popularized, and start to use by more of us.

Petroleum is one of the most important feedstock in industries, and its versatility makes it massively present in many everyday products (Sullivan, 2012). However, according to the data collected by the U.S. Department of Energy, oil era will be end in 50 years, if the consumption and reserve of crude oil remain the same as 2013 (U.S. Department of Energy, 2014). Thus, we need to find the replacement of petroleum as soon as possible.

Biodiesel, a desirable substitute for petrodiesel, is environmental friendly and sustainable, and it also has some unique properties, which make diesel engine works more efficiently. The future of this biofuel is bright, although there are still some minor problem exist in nowadays’ biodiesel (e.g. high price). The industry already invest 71 billion dollars in green fuels, including biodiesel (Wells, 2014). As increasing of fund invested and developing of technology, the biodiesel production will be more mature, and more and more high-quality biodiesel with better properties will be produced.

As a start of replacing petroleum, biodiesel is a desirable biofuel to substitute conventional diesel. It is renewable, and at some aspects it is better than petrodiesel. Thus, it should be known and utilized by more of us.

i

Prepared  by

Why You Should Pay for

A Brief Introduction to Biodiesel

Reporter Tommy Yuan

Prepared for Debbie L. Rolfes

Date 07 NOV 2014

Table of Content

Content

iii

Memo for Debbie i

Tittle Page ii

Table of Content iii

Summary 1

Introduction 2

What’s biodiesel? 3

Why biodiesel? 4

Sustainability 4

Environmental Friendliness 5

Other Properties 6

Why not biodiesel? 7

Problems? No Worries. 8

Conclusion 8

Recommendation 9

References 10

Bibliography 12

1

Summary

Petroleum has many negative impacts on our environment— greenhouse effect, acid rain, and smog, etc. However, we cannot live without it, because it has already massively related to our life— cosmetic, health, and even food. How can we be so selfish, and do not care about other creatures on our planet?

As a start of the transition from petroleum to non-petroleum, biodiesel, one of the biofuels, is a desirable solution for this ethical dilemma, although it has a slight higher price than conventional diesel. It is the fatty acids methyl or ethyl esters from renewable biomass (Qiu, 2014), so it is sustainable and environmental friendly, and it also has some benefits on diesel engine itself: lubricating ability and higher cetane number (easier to self-combust).

Although there are several disadvantages present in this biofuel: high price, high NOx emission, gelling in cold temperature, high viscosity, etc.; we still should believe it has a brighter future. Some of the big oil company has already started doing research on the green fuel, including biodiesel, BP, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell has invested over billions of dollars (Wells, 2014). Also, as developing of technologies, the biodiesel production will be more mature, and better products will be manufactured.

As has been said, biodiesel is a sustainable, environmental friendly fuel, which is used as a substitute for conventional diesel, and it also the start of the transition for oil era to non-oil era. Even though it has a high price and a few negative impacts on diesel engine, we still should use it and believe it will getting better, as developing of the technologies. Also, see this as an investment on future, and we will get the benefits when the oil has really gone.

Introduction

Introduction

Petroleum, one of the most essential feedstocks in industries, is “a naturally

occurring mixture of hydrocarbons” and the compounds of other elements (Speight,

2002). Except for its huge contribution on the carbon emission, petroleum has caused

some other serious issues for our environment, such as acid rain and smog. However,

due to its simple and stable structure, it is versatile and has been abundantly used in

industries. In another words, oil has been “leaked” to almost every aspect of our life:

energy, health, cosmetic and even food (Sullivan, 2012). Now, unfortunately, we are

facing a ethical dilemma: ensure the quality of our life and ignore the environment or

scarify ourselves and protect this bizarre ecosystem.

As a start of replacing petroleum, biodiesel, one of the “green” fuels, is a

desirable substitute to solve both of our problems. It has almost the same even better

properties as petrodiesel, yet it is environmental friendly. It will reduce health-

hazardous compound emission, and it is sustainable. Also, it can be used in diesel

engine with just a subtle change of the system and will provide lubricating and

efficient combustion for the engine. Although there are still some problems associate

with biodiesel, as developing of technologies, they will be solved by coming

researcher.

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Although it has a higher price and a few disadvantage, we still hope more and

more of us will start using biodiesel. The scope of this report introductory level of

biodiesel, and most of the source of this report is from peer-reviewed journal articles.

Definition, advantage, disadvantage, and future of biodiesel will be introduced in the

report.

What’s biodiesel?

Diesel engine, one of the internal combustion engines (ICE), is abundantly

used in vehicles, and it uses diesel as its fuel. As Qiu mentioned, diesel engine works

by using compression ignition, which is quite different from another well-known ICE,

petrol engine (or gasoline engine). After the diesel is injected into the chamber, it will

be compressed by the piston and will combust by itself. Thus, the efficiency of a

diesel engine is massively rely on the quality of self ignition of diesel, cetane number

(CN ), the higher the CN, the better the fuel (Qiu, 2014). 1

Molecule which are more saturated and has a longer hydrocarbon chain usually has a higher CN. 1

3

NaOH+3CH3OH

+

Figure 1 Base-catalysed Transmethylation of TAG (Kuamr, 2006)

Why biodiesel?

Biodiesel, "fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters from biological resources" (Qiu,

2014), is a fuel for diesel engine, as well, but it is biomass-based, and sustainable.

Biodiesel is obtained by transmethylation of triacylglycerol (TAG) with alcohol (e.g.,

methanol), which can both be produced from readily accessible renewable biomass.

Specifically, TAG ,used in biodiesel production, is mainly from soy bean, rapeseed,

and palm oil. Although the plant oil can directly used by the engine, the conversion

has to be made, because it can avoid many problems, such as cocking of the injector,

sticking of the oil ring, and gelling of the lubricant oil, etc (Kralova et al., 2010).

Why biodiesel?

Biodiesel is biomass-based fuel, which means it is more sustainable and

environmental friendly than conventional diesel. Other than that, biodiesel also has

some unique qualities which are better than conventional diesel, including lubricating

ability, and high cetane number (CN).

Sustainability

Not like conventional diesel, biodiesel is more sustainable, due to its

renewability. Biodiesel is mostly manufactured from biomass, which can be easily

recovered in a short time. During the growing period, those biomass will also absorb

carbon dioxide (CO2) through photosynthesis, which makes the fuel more

4

sustainable. Despite the utilization of chemical fertilizer and pesticide, biodiesel will

still reduce green house gases by 41% than conventional diesel (Hill et al., 2006).

Also, the demand of those oil seed crop for biodiesel production will promote the

development of agriculture, and provide more working opportunities in the field.

Environmental Friendliness

Biodiesel is made from fatty acid in biomass, mostly edible oil, which can be

utilized by many organisms, so it is non-toxic and biodegradable . According to the 2

experiment accomplished by Sendzikiene et al., 94.2% of rapeseed oil fatty acid ethyl

esters (biodiesel made from rapeseed oil) are biodegrade by the bacteria, while for

petrodiesel, only 57.3% (Sendzikiene et al., 2007).

Biodiesel will also reduce the toxic gas emissions during its burning process.

Kralova et al. suggest that biodiesel contains 11% of oxygen by weight (as showed in

Figure 2), which is almost absent in petrodiesel; that makes the combustion more

efficient and reduce unburned hydrocarbons by over 90%. Also, due to the absent of

sulfur, it will not emit any oxides of sulfur to the atmosphere during the combustion,

which will help mitigate the acid rain, as well.

“Fuel is considered to be biodegradable if not less than 90% of it degrades within 21 days.” (Sendzikiene et al., 2007)2

5

Why biodiesel?

The by-product of biodiesel also has many industrial use. As Johnsona et al.

report, glycerol is the by-product of biodiesel production, and generally, 10 wt%

crude glycerol will be generated during the manufacturing. It can be used in

production of many goods: food, beverage, pharmaceutical, etc. Under the

conventional catalytic conversion, it can also be made food emulsifiers and nonionic

surfactant (Johnsona et al., 2007).

Other Properties

Biodiesel has some benefits for diesel engine which petroleum does not have:

lubricating ability, higher CN, etc. Biodiesel usually has a higher viscosity than

petrodiesel, which means it has a better lubricating ability and can extend the life

span of diesel engine (Qiu, 2014). That is caused by its relatively longer molecule

length, and the existence of double-bond. In addition, biodiesel has a higher cetane

number (CN) in comparison with petrodiesel. As Kralova et al. mentioned, straight

and saturated hydrocarbon chain has a higher CN compare to branched-chain and

aromatic compound, and its also a prime point for diesel fuel (Kralove et al., 2010).

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Figure 2 Methyl Biodiesel (Kuamr, 2006)

Also, higher flash point and low volatility make biodiesel safer for storage, and

transportation.

Why not Biodiesel?

The #1 concern of the biodiesel is its price. According to the data provided by

U.S. Department of Energy, B99-B100 biodiesel cost 4.24 U.S. dollar per gallan, which

is 33 cents more than conventional diesel (U.S. Department of Energy, 2014b).

As has been said, biodiesel has many advantages for both environment and

the engine itself: biodegradable, lubricating ability, etc.; however, some of them have

some downside associate with them. Biodegradability is a benefit for our

environment, but it also indicates that the fuel is not stable; it is usually easily to be

oxidized (Qiu, 2014), and that has some negative impacts on the engine. The double-

edge sword like this in biodiesel is not the only one, high in viscosity can help with

lubricating engine, but it can also cause injector cocking.

In addition, the higher melting point and flash point will cause gelling of the

fuel in low temperature, this will happened in diesel/biodiesel blend, as well. (Qiu

2014; Kralova et al., 2010). Also, the energy content of biodiesel is lower than

conventional diesel (around 8%); however, in B20 (80% petrodiesel with 20%

biodiesel), the energy content will only decrease by 1-2% (Qiu, 2014).

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Conclusion

Problems? No worries.

Although there are many disadvantages present in biodiesel, as time goes by,

theses problems will be solved by more and more reachers; even for now, some

problems has already solve by additives (e.g. oxidation of biodiesel). As Wells

indicated, some big oil companies have already started on alternative energy: BP,

ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell have already invest billions of dollars on this field.

In the last ten years, $ 71 billion has been put into the “zero- and low-emission and

renewable energy technologies.” Thus, the future of biodiesel is bright, and as

development of the technologies, biodiesel will be better and better.

Conclusion

Biodiesel is a suitable substitute for conventional diesel, and it could be the

first step of reducing the reliance on petroleum. It has many benefits for both

environment and the diesel engine itself: sustainability, environmental friendliness,

higher lubricating ability, and safer in storage and transportation. Although it has

some downsides associate with it (e.g. high price, high viscosity, and lower energy

content), we still can believe it will become better and better. Because it has the

potential to replace the diesel fuel completely, and a bright future has already

associated with it: the “green” fuels, including biodiesel, has been invested 71 billion

dollars (Wells, 2014), and there will be researchers involve in this field.

8

Recommendations

Biodiesel is a biomass-based fuel for diesel engine; it has many benefits for

both engine and our environment. However, the price is slight higher than

conventional diesel and has a few downsides associate with it. As developing of

technologies, these downsides will solve one day, but it will be late when we start to

utilizing this fuel at that day. We hope that more of us can start to use this fuel and see

this as the investment for future, although it has a high price and few downsides.

Increasing the consumption of biodiesel can make the transition between petroleum

and non-petroleum smoother, and it can also decrease the pressure of the high

demanding on biomass for agriculture.

9

Reference

References

Delia Health. n.d. “Oil Bottle.” Photograph, http://www.deliahealth.com/health-tips/

2010/06/toxic-oils-in-your-kitchen-will-age-you-quickly/ (accessed

November 02, 2014).

Hill, Jason, Erik Nelson, David Tilman, Stephen Polasky, and Douglas Tiffany. 2006.

“Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel

and ethanol biofuels.” Proceedings of the national academy of science of

the United States of America. 103: 11206–11210. doi: 10.1073/pnas.

0604600103

Kralova, Iva, and Johan Sjöblom. 2010. Biofuels– renewable energy sources: A

review. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology. 31: 409-25.

Accessed October 19, 2014. doi: 10.1080/01932690903119674.

Qiu, Xiao. 2014. “Biofuel form biological oil — biodiesel.” Lecture notes of FABS

211: Introductory Bioproduct Science, University of

Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 9-16.

Sendzikiene, E., V. Makareviciene, et al. 2007. "Biodegradability of biodiesel

fuel of animal and vegetable origin." European Journal of Lipid

Science and Technology. 109: 493-497. DOI: 10.1002/ejlt.

200600243.

10

Speight, J. G. 2002. "Petroleum and petroleum products." In Handbook of

Petroleum Product Analysis. 30. Hoboken, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Sullivan, Jason. 2012. "10 everyday things that started life as oil." L istverse.

Accessed October 26, 2014. http://listverse.com/2012/12/23/10-

everyday-things-that-started-life-as-oil/.

U.S. Department of Energy. 2014a. "International Energy Statistics." U.S Energy

Information Administration. Accessed October 19. http://

www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/iedindex3.cfm?

tid=5&pid=57&aid=6&cid=ww,&syid=2003&eyid=2013&unit=BB

———. 2014b. ”Alternative fuels data center: Fuel Prices." Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy. Accessed October 18. http://

www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/prices.html.

Wells, Ken. "Big Oil's Big in Biofuels." Bloomberg Business Week. Accessed October

19, 2014. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/big-oils-

big-in-biofuels.

11

Bibliography

Bibliography

Atadashi, I. M., M. K. Aroua, and A. A. Aziz. 2011. “Biodiesel separation and

purification: A review.” Renewable Energy. 36: 437-43. Accessed

October 19, 2014. doi: 10.1016/j.renene2010.07.019

Delia Health. n.d. “Oil Bottle.” Photograph, http://www.deliahealth.com/health-tips/

2010/06/toxic-oils-in-your-kitchen-will-age-you-quickly/ (accessed

November 02, 2014).

Dorian, James P., Herman T. Franssen, and Dale R. Simbeck. 2006. “Global

challenges in energy.” Energy Policy. 34: 1984-91. Accessed

October 19, 2014. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2005.03.010.

Fri, Robert W., and Stephen Ansolabehere. 2012. “The alternative energy future:

Challenges for technological change.” Daedalus. 141: 5-9. doi: 10.1162/

DAED_a_00142.

Good, J. W. 2002. “Volatility and boiling points of biodiesel from vegetable oils and

tallow.” Biomass and bioenergy. 22: 205-211. doi: 10.1016/

S0961-9534(01)00074-5.

Hardy, Jeffery. 2004. “Green chemistry and sustainability.” In Renewable bioresources:

Scope and modification for non-food applications., edited by Christian V.

Stevens, and Roland Verhé, 1-30. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

12

Hill, Jason, Erik Nelson, David Tilman, Stephen Polasky, and Douglas Tiffany. 2006.

“Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel

and ethanol biofuels.” Proceedings of the national academy of science of

the United States of America. 103: 11206–11210. doi:

10.1073/pnas.0604600103

Johnsona, Duane T., and Katherine A. Taconib. 2007. “The glycerin glut: Options for

the value-added conversion of crude glycerol resulting from biodiesel

production.” Environmental Progress. 26: 338-348. Accessed October

19, 2014. doi: 10.1002/ep.10225.

Kumar, Naveen. 2006. “Biodiesel production technology & feedstocks for India.”

Lecter notes presented at workshop on Moving Toward Sustainable

Energy Systems: Exploring Global Pathways to a Common Destination,

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 24.

Kralova, Iva, and Johan Sjöblom. 2010. Biofuels– renewable energy sources: A

review. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology. 31: 409-25.

Accessed October 19, 2014. doi: 10.1080/01932690903119674.

13

Bibliography

Qiu, Xiao. 2014. “Biofuel form biological oil — biodiesel.” Lecture notes of FABS

211: Introductory Bioproduct Science, University of

Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 9-16.

Sendzikiene, E., V. Makareviciene, et al. 2007. "Biodegradability of biodiesel

fuel of animal and vegetable origin." European Journal of Lipid

Science and Technology. 109: 493-497. DOI: 10.1002/ejlt.

200600243

Speight, J. G. 2002. "Petroleum and petroleum products." In Handbook of

Petroleum Product Analysis. 30. Hoboken, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Stevens, Christian V. 2004. Renewable Resources: Back to the Future. In Renewable

bioresources: Scope and modification for non-food applications, edited

by Christian V. Stevens, and Roland Verhé, 293-300. Chichester: John

Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Sullivan, Jason. 2012. "10 everyday things that started life as oil." L istverse. Accessed

October 26, 2014. http://listverse.com/2012/12/23/10-everyday-things-

that-started-life-as-oil/.

U.S. Department of Energy. 2014a. "International Energy Statistics." U.S Energy

Information Administration. Accessed October 19. http://

www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/iedindex3.cfm?

tid=5&pid=57&aid=6&cid=ww,&syid=2003&eyid=2013&unit=BB

14

———. 2014b. ”Alternative fuels data center: Fuel Prices." Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy. Accessed October 18. http://

www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/prices.html.

Wells, Ken. "Big Oil's Big in Biofuels." Bloomberg Business Week. Accessed October

19, 2014. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/big-oils-

big-in-biofuels.

15

T. Yuan REPORTER

“Thank you!”

SUSTAINABLE | BIODEGRADABLE | INCREDABLE