Waste Cooking Oil to Biodiesel - A Review

Preview this chapter:

Waste Cooking Oil to Biodiesel - A Review, Page 1 of 1

< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/9789815196740/chapter-10-1.gif

The phrase "Biodiesel from Waste Cooking Oil" refers to a broad wide range of unconventional fuels generated from different kinds of oils and fats. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) defines biodiesel as "monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids," which can be produced by the transesterification of vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled cooking oil. The key factor leading to fossil fuel reserves being depleted is the increasing demand for these resources. Increasing the development of biomass fuels like biodiesel might help get us out of this jam. Oil molecules are reacted with alcohol and a catalyst to produce methyl esters in the transesterification process during biodiesel production from cooking oil. In Colombia, palm oil and methanol are used to produce biodiesel and it shares the second place with Colombia as Latin America's top ethanol producer. Waste cooking oil disposal causes several environmental issues. In addition, sewer overflows and the subsequent spread of illness might be the consequence of years of pipe wear and tear. As a renewable and biodegradable biofuel, biodiesel has the potential to reduce environmental damage by displacing the need for fossil fuels. Palm biodiesel, either on its own or blended with diesel fuel, is effective in lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, respectively. This chapter discusses the transesterification process as a method of creating biodiesel. It consists of three sequential and reversible reactions. It begins with a conversion from triglyceride to diacylglycerol, then continues to monoglyceride and glycerin. In particular, this chapter provides an in-depth analysis of several cooking oils, including their salient qualities and the most common pests. Most biodiesel originates from oilseed plants, such as palm, rapeseed, canola, sunflower, soy, and animal fats. The creation of biodiesel, however, may utilize anything that includes triglycerides. Used oil from the kitchen may be recycled into biodiesel at a low cost.