Biodiesel Production Flashcards

Flashcards for key vocabulary and concepts related to biodiesel production, covering principles, chemistry, production methods, and sources. They are designed to help in reviewing lecture notes and preparing for an exam.

Biodiesel

A mixture of Fatty Alkyl Esters (>96.5%) produced by transesterification.

Triacylglycerides (TAG)

Vegetable oils and fats mainly contain these.

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters or FAMEs

If the transesterification reaction proceeds using methanol, biodiesel is also known as…

EN 14214:2003

European Biodiesel Standard Specification number.

0.86-0.90

Density for FAME at 15°C (g/cm³), according to the European Biodiesel Standard.

3.5-5.0

Viscosity for FAME at 40°C (mm²/s), according to the European Biodiesel Standard

120 min

Flashpoint for FAME (°C), according to the European Biodiesel Standard

10 max

Maximum Sulphur (mg/kg) allowed, according to the European Biodiesel Standard

500 max

Maximum Water (mg/kg) allowed, according to the European Biodiesel Standard

96.5 min

Minimum Ester Content (%mass) allowed, according to the European Biodiesel Standard

B100

100% biodiesel is referred to as…

B20

20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel is labeled…

B5

5% biodiesel, 95% petrodiesel is labeled…

B2

2% biodiesel, 98% petrodiesel is labeled…

Rapeseed, palm, soya, sunflower and other oil producing plants

First generation feed stock examples for biodiesel oil sources.

Jatropha, mahua, jojoba oil, salmon oil, and sea mango

Second generation feed stock examples for biodiesel oil sources.

Microalgae

Third generation feed stock examples for biodiesel oil sources

12%

FAME composition from corn oil: C16:0 palmitic ester %

2.4%

FAME composition from corn oil: C18:0 stearic ester %

27.3%

FAME composition from corn oil: C18:1 oleic ester %

55.8%

FAME composition from corn oil: C18:2 linoleic ester %

1%

FAME composition from corn oil: C18:3 linolenic ester %

Biodiesel (79%)

This biofuel type held the largest share of the total biofuel consumption of the EU in 2008.

Non-flammable and non-explosive

Compared to petrodiesel, biodiesel has a flash point of 150oC, making it…

Transesterification

Catalyst, Reactants: alcohol (methanol, ethanol) + Oil --> fatty acid ester + glycerol

Acid-catalyzed

More efficient than alkali-catalysed when Free Fatty Acids > 1%

Alkali-catalyzed

For oil samples with FFA below 2 %

Glycerol

~15% (volume) of the total output of a biodiesel reaction is…

Biodiesel Production – unit operations

Reactor --> Separation --> Acidulation and separation --> Methanol removal --> Neutralization and methanol recovery --> Purification and drying --> Distillation column

Biodiesel production from microalgae

Algae cultivation --> Harvesting --> Oil extraction --> Biodiesel production

Carbon dioxide

Microalgae are sunlight-driven cells that convert this to potential biofuels.

Botryococcus braunii, Chlorella sp., Cylindrotheca sp., Crypthecodinium cohnii, Dunaniella primolecta…

Examples of microalgae strains:

Photobioreactors and Open Ponds

Algae cultivation types:

Dissolved air flotation, Centrifugation, and Filtration

Harvesting types for Biodiesel Production from microalgae:

Autoclaving, bead-beating, Microwaves, Sonication, and 10% NaCl solution

Oil extraction types of Cell disruption methods:

Conventional transesterification and In situ transesterification

Two biodiesel production methods: