Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T12:39:42.489Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Biofuels: The Role of Biodiesel and Improving Its Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 July 2011

Gerhard Knothe
Gerhard Knothe*
Affiliation:
National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

Concerns about the availability and long-term supply of petroleum-derived fuels have caused the search for alternative sources of energy. Liquid fuels will for some applications be necessary for an indefinite period of time. Therefore, defining relevant feedstocks, producing fuels from these feedstocks and the properties of these fuels are critical issues. Fuels powering compression-ignition (diesel) and turbine (jet) engines are among these liquid energy sources. Biodiesel, defined as the mono-alkyl esters of vegetable oils, animal fats or other triacylglycerol-based feedstocks plays a prominent role in this connection as alternative to petrodiesel fuels. Important issues facing biodiesel are feedstock supply as not enough vegetable oil is available to replace the whole petrodiesel market and the issue of fuel properties, especially cold flow and oxidative stability. The search for additional feedstocks coupled with the food vs fuel issue has increased interest in inedible oils derived from sources such as used cooking oils, jatropha and algae. However, biodiesel from these sources, as biodiesel derived from classical sources such as commodity vegetable oils, must meet performance criteria and this is not necessarily the case. Therefore, modifying the composition of biodiesel, i.e., its fatty ester profile, is a critical issue to enhance its use in the marketplace. Esters of specific fatty acids impart improved properties to biodiesel with esters of decanoic and palmitoleic acid displaying favorable properties for enrichment in biodiesel feedstocks. Renewable diesel is another fuel that can be obtained from triacylglycerol-based feedstocks. In its composition, i.e. alkane-type hydrocarbons, it more closely resembles petrodiesel fuel. While biodiesel is obtained from triacylglycerol-based feedstocks via a transesterification reaction using an alcohol in presence of a catalyst under mild conditions, renewable diesel can be obtained from such feedstocks via a hydrodeoxygenation reaction using hydrogen in presence of a catalyst under more severe conditions. Biodiesel and renewable diesel are compared regarding their production and properties and it is suggested that each fuel has a role to play in an alternative energy mix based on its properties.

Keywords

fluidbiomaterialchemical composition
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1326: Symposium F – Renewable Fuels and Nanotechnology , 2011 , mrss11-1326-f04-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Knothe, G., Van Gerpen, J. and Krahl, J. , J, Eds. The Biodiesel Handbook, 2nd ed. (AOCS Press, Urbana, IL U.S.A, 2010).Google Scholar
2. Mittelbach, M. and Remschmidt, C. Biodiesel – The Comprehensive Handbook. (M. Mittelbach, Graz, Austria, 2004).Google Scholar
3. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels. ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA, U.S.A.Google Scholar
4. European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Automotive fuels - Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) for diesel engines. Requirements and test methods. CEN, Brussels, Belgium.Google Scholar
5. Knothe, G., “Designer” biodiesel: Optimizing fatty ester composition to improve fuel properties. Energy Fuels 22, 1358–1364 (2008).10.1021/ef700639eGoogle Scholar
6. Knothe, G., Improving biodiesel fuel properties by modifying fatty ester composition. Energy Environm. Sci. 2, 759–766 (2009).10.1039/b903941dGoogle Scholar
7. Huber, G.W. and Corma, A., Synergies between bio- and oil refineries for the production of fuels from biomass. Angew. Chemie, Int. Ed. 46, 7184–7201 (2007).10.1002/anie.200604504Google Scholar
8. Knothe, G., Biodiesel and renewable diesel: A comparison. Progr. Energy Combust. Sci. 36, 364–373 (2010).10.1016/j.pecs.2009.11.004Google Scholar
9. Lee, J.-S., Saka, S., Biodiesel production by heterogeneous catalysts and supercritical technologies. Bioresource Technol. 101, 7191–7200 (2010).10.1016/j.biortech.2010.04.071Google Scholar
10. Fjerbaek, L., Christensen, K.V. and Norddahl, B., A Review of the Current State of Biodiesel Production Using Enzymatic Transesterification. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 102, 1298–1315 (2009).10.1002/bit.22256Google Scholar
11. Harrington, K.J., Chemical and Physical Properties of Vegetable Oil Esters and Their Effect on Diesel Fuel Performance. Biomass 9, 1–17 (1986).10.1016/0144-4565(86)90008-9Google Scholar
12. Knothe, G., Matheaus, A.C. and Ryan, T.W. III, Cetane numbers of branched and straight-chain fatty esters determined in an ignition quality tester. Fuel 82, 971–975 (2003).10.1016/S0016-2361(02)00382-4Google Scholar
13. McCormick, R.L., Graboski, M.S., Alleman, T.L. and Herring, A.M. Impact of Biodiesel Source Material and Chemical Structure on Emissions of Criteria Pollutants from a Heavy-Duty Engine. Environ. Sci. Technol. 35, 1742–1747 (2001).10.1021/es001636tGoogle Scholar
14. Knothe, G., Sharp, C.A. and Ryan, T.W. III Exhaust emissions of biodiesel, petrodiesel, neat methyl esters, and alkanes in a new technology engine. Energy Fuels 20, 403–408 (2006).10.1021/ef0502711Google Scholar
15. Knothe, G. and Dunn, R.O., A comprehensive evaluation of the melting points of fatty acids and esters determined by differential scanning calorimetry. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 86, 843–856 (2009).10.1007/s11746-009-1423-2Google Scholar
16. Imahara, H., Minami, E. and Saka, S., Thermodynamic study on cloud point of biodiesel with its fatty acid composition. Fuel 85, 1666–1670 (2006).10.1016/j.fuel.2006.03.003Google Scholar
17. Dunn, R.O. and Bagby, M.O. (1995) Low-temperature properties of triglyceride-based diesel fuels: transesterified methyl ester and petroleum middle distillate / ester blends. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 72, 895–904 (1995).10.1007/BF02542067Google Scholar
18. Benjumea, P., Agudelo, J. and Agudelo, A., Basic Properties of Palm Oil Biodiesel-Diesel Blends, Fuel 87, 2069–2075 (2008).10.1016/j.fuel.2007.11.004Google Scholar
19. Rashid, U., Anwar, F., Moser, B.R. and Knothe, G., Moringa oleifera oil: A possible source of biodiesel. Bioresour. Technol. 99, 8175–8179 (2008).10.1016/j.biortech.2008.03.066Google Scholar
20. Knothe, G., Cermak, S.C. and Evangelista, R.L., Cuphea oil as source of biodiesel with improved fuel properties caused by high content of methyl decanoate. Energy Fuels 23, 1743–1747 (2009).10.1021/ef800958tGoogle Scholar
21. Yu, L., Lee, I., Hammond, E.G., Johnson, L.A. and Van Gerpen, J.H. The influence of trace components on the melting point of methyl soyate. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 75, 1821–1824 (1998).10.1007/s11746-998-0337-8Google Scholar
22. Moreau, R.A., Scott, K.M. and Haas, M.J., The Identification of Steryl Glucosides in Precipitates from Commercial Biodiesel. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 85, 761–770 (2008).10.1007/s11746-008-1264-4Google Scholar
23. Frankel, E.N., Lipid Oxidation, 2nd ed. (The Oily Press, PJ Barnes and Associates, Bridgwater, England, 2005).10.1533/9780857097927Google Scholar
24. Knothe, G. and Steidley, K.R., Kinematic viscosity of biodiesel fuel components and related compounds. Influence of compound structure and comparison to petrodiesel fuel components. Fuel 84, 1059–1065 (2005).10.1016/j.fuel.2005.01.016Google Scholar
25. Barbour, R.H., Rickeard, D.J., Elliott, N.G., Understanding Diesel Lubricity. SAE Tech. Pap. Ser. 2000-01-1918 (2000).10.4271/2000-01-1918Google Scholar
26. Hillion, G., Montagne, X., Marchand, P., Methyl Esters of Plant Oils Used as Additives or Organic Fuel (in French). Ol., Corps Gras, Lipides 6, 435–438 (1999).Google Scholar
27. Knothe, G., Steidley, K.R., Lubricity of Components of Biodiesel and Petrodiesel. The Origin of Biodiesel Lubricity. Energy Fuels 19, 1192–1200 (2005).10.1021/ef049684cGoogle Scholar
28. Schober, S. and Mittelbach, M., Influence of diesel particulate filter additives on biodiesel quality. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 107, 268–271 (2005).10.1002/ejlt.200401115Google Scholar
29. Lee, I., Johnson, L.A. and Hammond, E.G., Use of branched-chain esters to reduce the crystallization temperature of biodiesel. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 72, 1155–1160 (1995).10.1007/BF02540982Google Scholar
30. Dunn, R.O., Shockley, M.W. and Bagby, M.O., Winterized methyl esters from soybean oil: An alternative diesel fuel with improved low-temperature flow properties. SAE(Society of Automotive Engineers) Techn. Paper Ser. 971682 (1997).10.4271/971682Google Scholar
31. Knothe, G., Biodiesel derived from a model oil enriched in palmitoleic acid, macadamia nut oil. Energy Fuels 24, 2098–2103 (2010).10.1021/ef9013295Google Scholar
32. Chisti, Y. Biodiesel from microalgae. Biotechnol. Adv. 25, 294–306 (2007).10.1016/j.biotechadv.2007.02.001Google Scholar
33. van Beilen, J.B., Why microalgal biofuels won’t save the internal combustion machine. Biofpr 91, 41–52 (2010).Google Scholar
34. Hu, Q., Sommerfeld, M., Jarvis, E., Ghirardi, M., Posewitz, M., Seibert, M. and Darzins, A., Microalgal triacylglycerols as feedstocks for biofuel production: Perspectives and advances. Plant J. 54, 621–639 (2008).10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03492.xGoogle Scholar
35. Foidl, N., Foidl, G., Sanchez, M., Mittelbach, M. and Hackel, S., Jatropha Curcas L. as a source for the production of biofuel in Nicaragua. Bioresour. Technol. 58, 77–82 (1996).10.1016/S0960-8524(96)00111-3Google Scholar
36. Kalscheuer, R., Stölting, T. and Microdiesel, A. Steinbüchel: Escherichia coli engineered for fuel production. Microbiol. 152, 2529–2536 (2006).10.1099/mic.0.29028-0Google Scholar
37. Keasling, J.D., Hu, Z., Somerville, C., Church, G., Berry, D., Friedman, L., Schirmer, A., Brubaker, S. and del Cardayré, S.B., Production of fatty acids and derivatives thereof, WO/2007/136762 (29 November 2007). http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2007136762.Google Scholar
38. Wackett, L.P., Biomass to fuels via microbial transformations. Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 12, 187–193 (2008).10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.01.025Google Scholar
39. Stöveken, T. and Steinbüchel, A., Bacterial acyltransferases as an alternative for lipase-catalyzed acylation for the production of oleochemicals and fuels, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 47, 3688–3694 (2008).10.1002/anie.200705265Google Scholar
40. Knothe, G., The Potential of Biodiesel with Improved Properties to an Alternative Energy Mix, Proc. 2nd Int. Symp. Zero Carbon Energy (2011), in press.Google Scholar