BUSINESS BIO FUELS LTD
ABOUT BIODIESEL
Biodiesel is a fuel derived from a process known as transesterification whereby the oils produced by oliferous plants (typically in the UK we are talking about rapeseed or sunflower oil as the major sustainable sources) are combined under the correct conditions with a methoxide catalyst to cause separation of the oil into usable fuel oil and glycerol by-product.
In layman's terms, transesterification can be thought of as the process of converting one ester into another ester. An ester is a chemical combination of fatty acids attached to alcohol. Animal and vegetable fats, oils and biodiesel are examples of esters. If both vegetable oil and biodiesel are esters, why is it not practical to use vegetable oil in a diesel engine instead of going through the process of creating biodiesel? In other words:
Why is there a need for transesterification?
The answer lies in the difference in viscosity, that is the thickness or resistance to flow, between the two esters. Vegetable oil has too high a viscosity for diesel engines, designed for fossil diesel, to cope with. This is because the constituent alcohol molecule of the vegetable oil ester, glycerol, is very large. Hence we need to reduce the thickness of the vegetable oil by replacing the glycerol with an alcohol that is smaller in molecular size, methanol, and thus create a different ester.
This is what the process of transesterification allows us to do. By converting the vegetable oil ester into the biodiesel ester, it separates the larger glycerol molecules from the fatty acids within the vegetable oil. The methanol combines with the fatty acids producing smaller methyl esters thus creating the more free flowing biodiesel.
Given that transesterification is the process of converting one ester into another, it has to be noted that the process is reversible.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING OUR BIODIESEL?
Firstly, biodiesel is completely sustainable. It is carbon neutral in that it releases the same amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as it took out in the first place during the growth cycle.
There are other major benefits in the use of biodiesel.
3 tonnes less carbon dioxide are liberated from storage in fossilised hydrocarbons.
180g less sulphur oxides are produced - virtually zero emissions
20kg less nitrous oxides are produced
50kg less carbon monoxide is produced
40kg less particulates are produced - biodiesel particulates are NON-carcinogenic
A SHORT SUMMARY OF BIODIESEL
· Improved lubrication without the use of additives resulting in up to 60% longer life for diesel engine, with less of the "knocking" sounds typical of diesel engines which allows the engine to run more smoothly.
· Up to 80% less emissions and carbon neutral.
· Cheaper to purchase by up to 10 pence per ltr or more compared to standard mineral diesel
· Biodiesel is a recognised fuel complying with European Standard EN14214 and is a direct replacement for diesel.
· Biodiesel has a higher flashpoint than mineral diesel. It is also readily biodegradable and non toxic, which makes it a safer and more environmentally friendly fuel to handle, particularly in sensitive areas.