Bio-Diesel

Importance of Bio.diesel

The keen interest evinced by the world in biodiesel is evidence to its growing importance. Production and use of this environment friendly source of energy generates social, economic positive externalities (rurual employment, reduced dependence on crude oil imports, soil and moisture conservation etc).

Expected demand for diesel and biodiesel

Energy security:

Increased urbanization, standard of living and an expanding population have meant an augmented energy demand (Mentioned in above table). The increasing gap between demand and domestic crude oil supply has led to increased dependence on imports. This dependency can be reduced by the production and usage of biodiesel blended fuel.

Moreover, the low per capita energy consumption in India is indicative of indicative of the untapped rural energy market. Thus, a two-pronged programme that fuels not only the urban lamp but also sparks the rural lantern is necessary. Biodiesel then would not just be a source of energy but an indigenous solution to rural India's lack of it.

Bio Diesel Project Scope

Depleting sources of fossil fuel, regulated production by OPEC and wide fluctuation in world prices are becoming a destabilizing element for the country's balance of payments. With the result, anticipated growth rate and development activities will still be a challenging task unless our contry's vast resources are better utilized fir tge looming energy crisis. Therefore it increases the interest in alternative fuels like bo diesel and ethanol is emerging. In many ways bio diesel and ethanol is an ideal transportation fuel. It is better for the environment than petroleum, it is domestically produced, and its use supports farmers and rural economies.

Pilot Plant for Biodiesel.

There are three basic routes to biodiesel production from oils and fats.

1. Acid catalyzed esterification of the oil with methanol.

2. Conversion of the oil to fatty acids and then to methyl esters with acid catalysis.

3. Basic catalyst trans-esterification of the oil with methanol

4. The majority of biodiesel produced today are done with the base catalysed reaction only. Because it is the most economic for several reasons.

i)Conversion requires low temperature and pressure

iii) Reaction time is less.

iv) It is direct conversion to methyl ester with non intermediate steps.

The oil yielding plant Jatropha curcas L is a multipurpose and through resistant large shrub, which is widely grown in the tropics as a live fence. The oil yield obtained from a whole seed is 30 - 35 % by weight basis. The Jatropha oil can be used as a fuel in diesel engines after esterification as a substitute to commercial diesel.

Production of Biodiesel

The production process is a relatively simple process that involves three main stages:

Oilseeds are collected and crushed for the extraction of Jatropha oil. The oil is extractable by solvent extraction method or mechanically by the use of a hydraulic press or simple screw press. The expelling unit can be set up either on a small-scale or a larger scale within the biodiesel manufacturing plant.

Trans-esterification

In this process the triglyceride fatty acid in Jatropha oil, in the presence of a catalyst, reacts with the alcohol to produce a fatty acid ester referred to as biodiesel and by-product glycerin. The technology used is relatively simple and the machinery can be fabricated locally. Methanol and Potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are introduced in the process as the local and the Catalyst, respectively. After the trans-esterification process, the process of settling, washing, purification, evaporation and distillation are undertaken to yield biodiesel and glycerin. While biodiesel so obtained can be sold to distribution companies for blending, glycerin can find institutional buyers in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic industry.

Blending:

The existing infrastructure for distribution and storage of petroleum diesel is adequate for biodiesel as well. Splash blending is possible as it is slightly heavier than petroleum diesel. However, since, no separate dispensing facilities are required, the existing network of stations can be utilized without having to incur any additional costs.

Process Flow charts

Unit cost

Biodiesel production unit cost may vary that is depend upon the output production. Approximately 6.5lacs +4% tax for the production of 3 MT of oil/day.

By-Products

The two by-products of biodiesel are Oil cake and Glycerine, both of which have a huge market potential. Jatropha Oil cake is rich in nitrogen and forms an excellent source of plant nutrients and a richa raw material for composting. The toxins present in the cakes can be denatured or de-activated by heat.

Glycerine is a by-product of the trans-esterification process and can be used to either produce soap or make ethanol through fermentation. Glycerine finds application in the personal care, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industry.

Advantages of Biodiesel

• Biodiesel runs in any conventional, unmodified diesel engine. It can be stored anywhere that petroleum diesel fuel is stored.

• Biodiesel reduces Carbon Dioxide emission by up to 100% because it is a renewable fuel. This is very important because Carbon dioxide contributes to 50% of the Greenhouse Effect.

• Biodiesel can be used alone or mixed in any amount with petroleum diesel fuel.

• Biodiesel is more lubricating than diesel fuel, So it increases the life of engines.

• Biodiesel is safe to handle because it is biodegradable and non-toxic. According to Alan Weber of the NAB, " neat biodiesel is as bio degradable as sugar and less toxic that salt".

• Biodiesel has a high flash point, or ignition temperature, of about 300 F compared to petroleum diesel fuel, which has a flash point of 125 F. This means its safer to transport.

• Pure bio-diesel is biodegradable, nontoxic and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

• Bio-diesel cuts down on targeted emissions. Bio-diesel used in 20 percent blend with petroleum diesel and a catalytic converter will cut air pollution. Particulate matter is reduced 31 percent, Carbon monoxide by 21 percent and total hydrocarbons by 47 percent. Bio-diesel used in a blend will also reduce sulfur emissions and aromatics. Using 100% bio-diesel further reduces emissions and carcinogenic compounds.

• Since bio-diesel is oxygenated, diesel engines have more complete combustion than when using petroleum fuel.

• Biodiesel is a much better lubricant than conventional diesel fuel and extends engine life ( German truck won an entry in the Guinnes Book of Records by traveling more than 1.25 million km (780,000 miles) on biodiesel with its original engine)

Fuel Properties

Reduction in exhaust gas emissions from biodiesel as compound as compared to diesel fuel