Vegetable oil and biofuels

• Vegetable Oils 


  Vegetable oil is a type of edible oil derived from various plant sources. It is extracted from the seeds, nuts, fruits, or other parts of plants, and they are typically liquid at room temperature
• Biofuels


  are renewable fuels derived from organic materials, such as plants, algae, or animal waste.
• Common types of biofuels include

  biodiesel, ethanol, and biogas
• 1780, Carl Wilhelm Scheele


  demonstrated that fats were derived from glycerol
• Rudolf Diesel in the late 1800s 


  Vegetable oils were early fuels tested in the compression ignition engine invented
• Henry Ford


  designed the Model T to run on ethanol
• During World War II


  the demand for biofuel increased once again as fossil fuels became less abundant.
• RAW MATERIALS OF BIOFUELS: Edible Plant Oil, Non Edible Planet Oil, Used Edible Oils, Microalgae, Animal Fats
• Edible Plant Oils


  Biodiesel has been predominantly (more than 95 %) produced from edible vegetable oils (biodiesel first generation) all over the world, which are easily available on large scale from the agricultural industry.
• Non Edible Plant Oils 


  Technologies are being developed to exploit cellulosic materials for the production of biodiesel (biodiesel, second generation) such as leaves and stems of plants, biomass derived from waste, and also, oils seeds from non-edible plants
• Used Edible Oils 


  It is commonly called waste cooking oil. The used edible oil is categorized by its Free Fatty Acid (FFA) content.
• Microalgae 


  are classified as diatoms (bacillariophyceae), green algae (chlorophyceae), golden brown (chrysophyceae) and blue green algae (cyanophyceae).
• Animal Fats


  used to produce biodiesel include tallow, choice white grease or lard, fish fat (in Japan) and chicken fat.
• TYPES OF BIOFUELS: bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biobutanol, biohydrogen
• Bioethanol


  mainly produced in Brazil and the U.S.A.
• Biodiesel


  from the fatty acids found in vegetable oils and is produced using a process known as transesterification, which involves using methanol to create a catalytic reaction
• Biogas


  produced during anaerobic digestion of biomass or gasification of wood using pyrolysis
• Biobutanol


  produced through fermentation of startch
• Biohydrogen


  can be produced using a number of processes such as pyrolysis, gasification or biological fermentation
• Hydrogenation


  1. Adds hydrogen for solidity

  2. Creates unhealthy trans fats
• Solvent Extraction

  1. Uses solvents to extract large quantities

  2. May leave harmful residues
• Cold Pressing


  1. Natural method using pressure

  2. Preserves flavor and nutrients

  3. Shorter shelf life
• Refining


  1. Removes impurities for better taste and quality

  2. Reduces some nutrients
• Deodorization


  Removes odors and flavors for better taste and smell in cooking
• Processing Techniques of Vegetable Oils

  Hydrogenation Solvent Extraction Cold Pressing Refining Deodorization
• Processing Techniques of Biofuels

  Fermentation, Transesterification, Pyrolysis, Hydrothermal Liquefaction
• Fermentation


  Uses microbes to convert sugars/starches to ethanol (bioethanol from corn).
• Transesterification


  Converts vegetable oils/fats to biodiesel using alcohol (biodiesel from soybean oil).
• Pyrolysis


  Breaks down biomass without oxygen for bio-oil, biochar, syngas (from wood waste).
• Hydrothermal Liquefaction


  Uses heat & pressure to convert wet biomass to bio-oil, biochar (from algae)
• Food Processing(Vegetable oil)


  Cooking, frying, baking, flavoring. Ingredient in margarine, salad dressing, mayo. Preferred for lower saturated fat and better stability than animal fats
• Cosmetics(Vegetable oil)


  Moisturizing, emollient, antioxidant properties. Used in lotions, creams, lip balms. Preferred for natural origin and perceived health benefits over mineral oil.
• Pharmaceuticals(Vegetable oil)


  Drug carrier, solvent for poorly soluble drugs. Preferred for biocompatibility and biodegradability over synthetic oils
• Biofuels (Vegetable oil)


  Renewable alternative to diesel (biodiesel). Preferred for high energy content and compatibility with existing infrastructure
• Industrial Lubricants (Vegetable oil)

  Biodegradable base oil for metalworking, hydraulics, gearboxes. Preferred for lower environmental impact over mineral oil
• Paints and Coatings (Vegetable Oil)

  Binders and solvents in wood finishes, metal coatings, printing inks. Preferred for natural origin and lower toxicity over synthetic options
• Industrial use of biofuel

  Transportation, Electricity, Heat & Steam, Chemicals, Agriculture
• Transesterification


  This process converts triglycerides in vegetable oil into biodiesel (FAME) and glycerin using an alcohol and a catalyst.
• Direct Esterification

  This alternative process uses a strong acid catalyst to directly convert fatty acids in the oil to biodiesel. However, it is less common and less efficient than transesterification due to Higher reaction temperatures, Increased corrosion and Lower quality biodiesel
• Pyrolysis 


  This process thermally decomposes the vegetable oil in the absence of oxygen, producing a bio-oil that can be further refined into fuels like gasoline or diesel.