Conventional methods to produce biodiesel

The Biodiesel is produced by virgin or used vegetable oils (food and technical) and animal fats through various chemical processes. The production of biodiesel from vegetable oils recycled cooking fat or animal fat reduces the dependence on the production of diesel fuel of oil base.

The primary feedstock for biodiesel production in Europe is still the oil seed rape. It is composed of fatty acids with good quality, relatively low iodine number and content of saturated fatty acids.

The most widespread method of production of  biodiesel is transesterification. Typically these are l esters of methyl, ethyl and higher alcohols which are derived from triglyceride-essential components of all natural oils and fats. The triglycerides react with the alcohols in the presence of a catalyst (a major catalyst - sodium hydroxide) to form esters of fatty acids in that scheme.

There is an alkalization of the triglycerides with the formation of low molecular weight esters of higher fatty acids (FAME) and the glycerin is separated as by product, which is more popular and has a high density of FAME. For this reason, glycerin is separated easily. Through various additional processes glycerin can be processed to receive soap products (potassium phosphate).

The molecular mass of the raw material - vegetable oil is about 4-5 times higher than that of diesel fuel. The resulting end product in esterification of vegetable oils - methyl or ethyl ester has a molecular weight similar to the diesel fuel.The  physical properties of esters are close to those of the hydrocarbons of conventional diesel fuel. The obtained methyl esters do not contain nitrogen and sulfur organic compounds and metals.