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INTRODUCTION
Biodiesel refers to a nonpetroleum- based diesel fuel consisting of short

chain alkyl (methyl or ethyl) esters, made by trans esterification of
vegetable oil or animal fat (tallow), which can be used (alone, or blended
with conventional petrol diesel) in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles.
Biodiesel is distinguished from the straight-vegetable oil (SVO)
(sometimes referred to as “waste vegetable oil” “WVO” “used vegetable
oil” “UVO” “pure plant oil”, “PPO”) used(alone, or blended) as fuels in
some converted diesel vehicles. Biodiesel is standardized as mono-alkyl
ester and other kinds of diesel-grade fuels of biological origin are not
included.
Unlike the vegetable and waste oils used to fuel converted diesel engines,
biodiesel is a drop-in biofuel, meaning it is compatible with existing diesel
engines and distribution infrastructure. However, it is usually blended
with petro diesel (typically to less than 10%) since most engines cannot
run on pure Biodiesel without modification. Biodiesel blends can also be
used as heating oil.
USES OF BIODIESEL
Generating Electricity
Fuel-cells have power-generation applications that could utilize biodiesel.
Biodiesel can be used in backup systems where the substantial reduction in
emissions really matters: hospitals, schools, and other facilities usually located in
residential areas. It can also be used to supplement solar power in off-the grid
homes.
Producing Hydrogen from Fuel Cell Vehicles

Fuel cell vehicles turn hydrogen fuel and oxygen into electricity. The electricity
then powers an electric motor, just like electricity from batteries powers the motor
of an electric vehicle. Fuel cells combine oxygen from the air with hydrogen from
the vehicle's fuel tank to produce electricity. When oxygen and hydrogen are
combined they give off energy and water (H2O). In fuel cells this is done without
any burning (combustion).
Cleaning up Oil Spills

Biodiesel has been tested as potential cleaning agent for shorelines contaminated
with crude oil, and has been found to increase the recovery of crude oil from
artificial sand columns (i.e. the beach). It’s also been used in commercial bio
solvents shown to be effective in coagulating crude oil and allowing it to be
skimmed off the surface of water.
Adding Lubricity to Diesel Fuel

Diesel fuels are required to reduce their sulfur concentration from 500 ppm to 15
ppm. Since sulfur provided most of the fuel’s lubricity, a substitute is required to
keep diesel engines functioning properly and avoid premature injection pump wear
(i.e. failure). Biodiesel naturally has less than 15 ppm sulfur concentration anyway,
and adding just 1 to 2% biodiesel can restore the lubricity to diesel fuel. Apart
from these uses, biodiesel can be used in heating our homes, cleaning up tools &
grease, removing paint and adhesives, can extend the life of catalytic converters.
REQUIREMENTS FOR FORMATION
 Vegetable oil
 Antifreeze (Methanol)
 Lye (NaOH-Sodium Hydroxide)
 Blender
 Scales
 Plastic containers
 Funnels
 Plastic bottle with lid
 Duct tape
 Thermometer
PROCEDURE
Step 1: Measure out 200 ml of antifreeze and put it in one plastic
container.
Step 2: Add in lye so that the antifreeze is absorbed.
Step 3: Cover container and mix well by shaking it. It is mixed when it
starts to feel warm and is foamy. The mixture has now become sodium
methoxide.
Step 4: Blend 1 liter of vegetable oil with the sodium methoxide in a

blender for 20 minutes.
Step 5: Pour mixture into a bottle and wait 8 hours until the byproduct,
glycerin, separates form the biodiesel. The glycerin will be on the solid on
the bottom.
Step 6: Separate out the biodiesel by pouring into a glass bottle.
Step 7: Prepare a wash bottle by poking a small hole in the corner of the
bottle and covering it with duct tape.
Step 8: Wash the biodiesel by pouring it into the wash bottle and adding in
½ a liter of water. Roll the bottle around to mix it and then remove the
duct tape and drain the water.
Step 9: Repeat the washing process until the biodiesel is clear. This may
need to be done numerous times over the course of a week to complete the
process. Store the biodiesel in a glass container until ready to use.
REACTIONS INVOLVED
Trans esterification:
Animal & plant fats & oils are typically made of triglycerides which are
esters of free fatty acids with the tri-hydric alcohol, glycerol. In the trans
esterification process, the alcohol is deprotonated with a base to make it a
stronger nucleophile. Commonly, ethanol or methanol is used. As can be
seen, the reaction has no other inputs than the triglyceride & the alcohol.
Normally, this reaction will precede either exceedingly slowly or not at
all. Heat, as well as an acid or base are used to help the reaction more
quickly.
FEATURES OF BIODIESEL
Power: One of the major advantages is the fact that it can be used in
exiting engines & fuel injection equipment (no modification required)
without negative impact to operating performance.
Fuel availability/economy: Virtually the same MPG rating as petrol-

diesel & the only alternative fuel for heavyweight vehicles requiring no
special dispensing & storage equipment.
Production/Refining: Can be done at home (wasted veggie oil) & farms

(virgin oils from seeds), being the only alternative fuel that can boost of a
zero total emissions production facility. By selling the simultaneously
produced glycerol, the cost of BD is basically the same cost of the oil used
to make it.
Storage: Readily blends & stays blended with petrol-diesel so it can be

stored & dispensed wherever diesel is stored or sold.
Combustibility/Safety: Biodiesel has a very high flash point (300⁰F)

making it one of the safest of all alternative fuels.
Lubricity: The only alternative fuel that can actually extend engine life
because of its superior lubricating & cleaning properties. The present “low
sulphur” diesel fuel is badly wearing the injection pumps of not protected
diesel engine.
Usage: Biodiesel fuel can generally be used in existing oil heating systems
and diesel engines without modification, and it can be distributed through
existing diesel fuel pumps. This is an advantage over other alternative
fuels, which can be expensive to use initially due to high cost of
equipment modifications or new purchases. Biodiesel provides almost the
same energy per gallon as petroleum diesel.
Environment Impact: The only renewable alternative diesel fuel that

actually reduces major greenhouse gas components in the atmosphere. The
use of biodiesel will also reduce the following emissions: carbon
monoxide, ozone-forming-hydrocarbons, hazardous diesel particulate, acid
rain-causing sulphur dioxide, lifecycle carbon dioxide.
DISADVANTAGES OF BIODIESEL
 Biodiesel is currently about one and a half times more expensive than
petroleum diesel fuel. Part of this cost is because the most common
source of oil is the soybean, which only is only 20% oil. However, the
costs of biodiesel can be reduced by making biodiesel from recycled
cooking oils rather than from new soy beans, or by making it from plant
matter with higher oil content.
 It takes energy to produce biodiesel fuel from soy crops, including the
energy of sowing, fertilizing and harvesting.
 Biodiesel fuel can damage rubber hoses in some engines, particularly in

cars built before 1994. You should check with the manufacturer before
using biodiesel to see if you need to replace any hoses or rubber seals.
 Biodiesel cleans the dirt from the engine. This dirt then collects in the
fuel filter, which can clog it. Clogging occurs most often when biodiesel
is first used after a period of operation with petroleum diesel, so filters
should be changed after the first several hours of biodiesel use.
BIODIESEL - THE CLEAN FUEL
 Biodiesel burns up to 75% cleaner than petroleum diesel fuel.
 Biodiesel reduces unburned hydrocarbons (93% less), carbon monoxide
(50% less) & particulate matter (30% less) in exhaust fumes, as well as
cancer-causing PAH (80% less).
 Sulphur dioxide emissions are eliminated (biodiesel contains no
Sulphur). Biodiesel is a plant-based & using it adds no extra CO2
greenhouse gas to the atmosphere.
 The ozone-forming (smog) potential of biodiesel emissions is nearly
50% less than petrol-diesel emissions.
 Nitrogen oxide emissions may increase or decrease with biodiesel but
can be reduced to well below petrol-diesel fuel levels.
 Biodiesel exhaust is not offensive & doesn’t cause eye irritation.
 Biodiesel can be mixed with petrol-diesel in any proportion, with no
need for a mixing additive.
 With slight variations depending on the vehicle, performance & fuel
economy with biodiesel is the same as with petrol-diesel.
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
All the information in the project has been gathered from internet.
Websites used:
 Google Free encyclopedia on biodiesel
 Biodiesel uses
 iCBSE
 Transesterification chemistry for preparing
 biodiesel Biodiesel features
 Making your own biodiesel
 Fact file of biodiesel 1. File Content (unformatted)

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INTRODUCTION

Biodiesel refers to a nonpetroleum- based diesel fuel consisting of short

Producing Hydrogen from Fuel Cell Vehicles

Cleaning up Oil Spills

Adding Lubricity to Diesel Fuel

 Lye (NaOH-Sodium Hydroxide)

 Plastic bottle with lid

Step 2: Add in lye so that the antifreeze is absorbed.

Step 4: Blend 1 liter of vegetable oil with the sodium methoxide in a

Step 6: Separate out the biodiesel by pouring into a glass bottle.

Fuel availability/economy: Virtually the same MPG rating as petrol-

Production/Refining: Can be done at home (wasted veggie oil) & farms

Storage: Readily blends & stays blended with petrol-diesel so it can be

Combustibility/Safety: Biodiesel has a very high flash point (300⁰F)

Environment Impact: The only renewable alternative diesel fuel that

 Biodiesel fuel can damage rubber hoses in some engines, particularly in

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