Energy life cycle analysis (EgLCA), also popularly known as “energy balance,” accounts for the amount and type of energy used in the production of a fuel and compares that to the amount of energy contained in the resulting fuel.
We prefer the term “energy life cycle analysis” over “energy balance” because the term “energy balance” could mislead people into thinking that the input and output energy should be balanced, or equal. Because EgLCA is usually concerned with the input …
Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine in the 1890s. From the beginning, this engine could run on a variety of fuels, including vegetable oil. In 1900, one of the new diesel engines featured at the Paris Exposition was powered by peanut oil. However, because cheap petroleum fuels were easily available, few people were interested in alternatives (Pahl, 2005, pp. 18-22).
As early as the 1930s, there was interest in splitting the fatty acids from the glycerin in …
Oil separation, the extraction of oil from seeds or plant parts, is accomplished by mechanical pressing, sometimes followed by chemical extraction. Mechanical pressing alone does not remove all the oil from the seed. Chemical extraction uses a solvent to remove the remaining oil that mechanical press cannot. Chemical, mechanical, and solvent extraction are terms accepted and understood by the industry.
Small biodiesel businesses will likely extract oil from seeds using a mechanical method – a press that squeezes the …
The “Mustard Bug” is not a pest, but a VW that runs on biodiesel made from mustard oil at the University of Idaho where they are researching mustard oil’s energy potential for biodiesel fuel.
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| Mustard flowers. Photo: Riyaas; Wikimedia Commons. |
Mustard seed oil is not currently a common biodiesel feedstock, but because it has the potential to be a cheaper feedstock than the two most common oilseeds …
Biodiesel that leaves the production plant in good condition can become unacceptable during distribution without proper care and attention. Biodiesel can degrade due to oxidation, contact with water, and/or microbial activity.
In general, biodiesel will degrade more quickly than petro-diesel. In one sense, this is a good thing: a biodiesel spill will biodegrade quickly and not cause as many environmental problems as a petro-diesel spill. Nevertheless, both fuels will eventually degrade, and the same good housekeeping practices that apply …
Biodiesel is a relatively safe product. It is considered nonflammable and biodegradable. However, the components to make biodiesel can be hazardous in some situations. Biodiesel is made by reacting vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol (methanol or ethanol) and a catalyst (sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide). Sulfuric and hydrochloric acids are also used in biodiesel production. Methanol, the catalysts, and the acids are toxic chemicals.
Methanol is colorless and tasteless and can cause blindness or death if …
Saponification is a chemical reaction that involves the production of a metal salt or soap. The reaction involves the attack on a methyl ester, free fatty acid, triglyceride, or other glyceride by a hydroxide ion, –OH.
The hydroxide ion implies the presence of water in the system. If water could be eliminated, then there would be no soap formation. However, this is a practical impossibility. There is always some water present, and there will always be …
Several perennial grass species, such as energycane are being assessed for their biomass energy potential.
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| Energy cane research on muck soils in Florida. Photo: Extension Farm Energy. |
Numerous subtropical and tropical perennial grasses are being evaluated for use as a biomass energy feedstock. Among them, Energycane (Saccharum spp.), giant reedgrass (Arundo donax), elephantgrass/Napier grass (Pennisetum spp.), and erianthus (…
Three general types of reactors are used for biodiesel production: batch reactors, semi-continuous-flow reactors, and continuous-flow reactors.
The batch process is inexpensive, requiring much less initial capital and infrastructure investment. It is flexible and allows the user to accommodate variations in feedstock type, composition, and quantity. The major drawbacks of the batch process include low productivity, larger variation in product quality, and more intensive labor and energy requirements.
The semi-continuous process is similar to the batch process except that …
Extraneous material should first be removed from the harvested crop seed by screening. This is particularly important to ensure that materials such as small stones are removed prior to crushing and extraction. The seed should also be passed over a magnet to remove metal pieces.
Processors sometimes heat the seeds prior to processing to increase the oil yield. When pressing for fuel production, it is possible to use engine exhaust to warm the …
