A study on various sources and technologies for production of biodiesel and its efficiency

Abstract

Energy from renewable sources is steadily expanding, even if fossil fuels remain the primary source of energy. Numerous advantages to biodiesel over other biofuels and fossil fuels make it a promising alternative fuel. It was the goal of this research project to distinguish between conventional and new technologies used throughout the biodiesel production and consumption life cycle. Biodiesel generation from micro-algal lipids and enhanced homogeneous and enzymatic transesterification, as well as non-catalytic supercritical transesterification using microwave and ultrasound as helping technologies, are all discussed in detail in the study. Our examination of biodiesel environmental assessment principles and current accomplishments takes into account all the variables that can affect the process efficiency and safety. Scientific research and development on biodiesel have increased over the past few decades. Alternative fuels are high in demand due to dwindling petroleum hydrocarbon supplies worldwide. Biodiesel, a type of biofuel, is now being hailed as a breakthrough commodity that will eventually replace petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel is a crucial advantage over conventional diesel in biodegradability, reduced exhaust emissions, more outstanding flash points, good lubricity, and other characteristics. Feedstock for biodiesel production includes various edible oils, non-edible oils, animal fats, microalgal oils, waste oils, and advanced solar oil. Biodiesel is prepared by breaking down the fats and oils into their corresponding alkyl esters by heating them. Processes such as transesterification, dilution, pyrolysis, and microemulsion are used to synthesize biodiesel. Microwave-assisted transesterification, reactive distillation, membrane separation, reactive extraction, and ultrasound are all recent developments in biodiesel manufacturing. The present works compare the ongoing research in the area of various biodiesel production processes in terms of their effectiveness. Graphical abstract