Biodiesel has been around for quite some time. However, not everyone can explain what the difference between ordinary diesel fuel and biodiesel is. This article will dispel myths and give a clear idea of the methods and stages of biodiesel synthesis, as well as its disadvantages and advantages.
In Western countries, the idea of producing fuel from renewable resources is extremely popular. In Russia, biodiesel remains an exotic. And this state of affairs will continue, most likely, until the moment when the oil reserves are exhausted. And this will happen, according to scientists, in no less than a hundred years.
Biodiesel production
The feedstock for the production of such fuel can be very many crops. Depending on the climatic zone, it can be soybeans, corn and sunflower seeds, and rape. And this is a far from complete list. Some craftsmen manage to organize the production of biodiesel at home from the remains of sunflower oil.
Rapeseed crops are the most suitable, as they grow quickly and are not whimsical to weather and other conditions. But recently, the possibility of producing fuel from algae has been actively discussed. According to preliminary estimates, such raw materials will supplant rapeseed crops in the near future. This is due to the fact that for the cultivation of algae there is no need to occupy sown areas. In addition, the result will have the best technical and economic indicators.
Production technology
As with the organization of any technological process, input control of incoming raw materials is carried out at the very beginning. In this case, a selective check of grains is carried out. The quality of the whole batch is judged by the quality of the seeds.
The next step is getting oil. Why the raw materials are sent to the churn. Oilcakes obtained after squeezing the oils are not discarded; they are used to produce livestock feed.
The oil is subjected to further processing (the so-called esterification). It consists in the enrichment of oil with methyl esters. The total content of these substances throughout the volume should be at least 96%.
The essence of the technology is quite simple: it is necessary to add methanol and an activator of chemical processes (any alkali). The source of methanol is usually sawdust. However, you can simplify the task. Instead of releasing methanol, you can dilute the oil with the required amount of isopropyl alcohol or ethanol.
For esterification processes to occur, it is necessary to heat the oil to high temperatures. In time, this usually takes up to two hours. In this case, you must constantly monitor the process and not be distracted: even a slight increase in temperature can lead to ignition of the oil.
The completion of the chemical reaction is evidenced by the production of a glycerol deposit at the bottom and the formation of two layers in the tank. Therefore, it is desirable that a transparent container be used for these processes: in this case, it is visually possible to accurately determine when the process is completed, which will eliminate the need for further improvements and prevent getting defective.
Biodiesel properties
Biofuels have truly amazing properties. So, ordinary table salt is 10 times more toxic compared to biodiesel.
It is also worth noting the extremely high ignition temperature of biofuels - 150 degrees versus 50 degrees Celsius with conventional gasoline. This circumstance makes biodiesel much safer during transportation and storage.
When burning such fuel no unpleasant odors are formed. Instead of the usual stench, a pleasant aroma of overseas plants is felt.
The use of biodiesel does not impair the performance of the power unit: power and torque do not change. At the same time, the useful life of the internal combustion engine also increases.
Options for Using Biofuels
Such fuel is allowed to be poured into the car tank. At the same time, it is in no way inferior to a traditional diesel engine, and even surpasses that in some parameters. Many owners of cars and heavy equipment (trucks, combines, special equipment) cannot dare to take such a step. But according to numerous testimonies of drivers, biodiesel does not harm the engine and does not pollute the injection system.
Sometimes biodiesel is mixed in certain proportions with traditional fuels and poured into the tank of the vehicle. Such an experience is still not well understood. But, judging by the reviews, such a technique also has the right to life.
Benefits of Biodiesel
The most important advantage is the use of renewable resources as a source of raw materials, which in the future can ensure energy security of the whole world. Despite the rapid growth in popularity of electric vehicles, the internal combustion engine will play a decisive role in the global economy for a very long time to come. Yes, it is unlikely that large ocean ships, even in the long term, can be converted to electric traction. Potential producers of biodiesel in our country are farms and collective farms. After all, fuel security of these entities is an extremely acute issue in anticipation of sowing campaigns. If we equip the farms with the necessary technological equipment and provide specialists, then they could very well become self-sufficient in fuel. This event would have a positive effect on the dynamics of price growth. As a result of this set of measures, the competitiveness of the enterprise will increase significantly.
An important feature of biodiesel is that it is made from plant materials. Moreover, the cultivation of these crops does not deplete the land, but positively affects its fertility. So, peanut, rapeseed, mustard, rapeseed, soybean and other oils can be used for fuel production. There are reports of attempts to produce biodiesel from animal fats. But it’s not yet clear how economically feasible it is.
Disadvantages of biodiesel
The main disadvantage of biodiesel is its high cost. So far, the price of petroleum products is clearly more competitive compared to this innovative product. Another significant drawback is the short shelf life of ready-to-use biofuel: if it is not used for three months as intended, the fuel will become worthless (decompose). And the final chord is the need to withdraw from cultivation significant cultivated areas suitable for growing food products. In the face of food shortages on the planet, this circumstance is gradually becoming increasingly important.
Environmental impact
Surprisingly, this type of fuel is absolutely harmless to nature and its release into the environment does not cause any negative consequences for flora and fauna. This can not be said about oil and petroleum products. It is well known that only one liter of gasoline or fuel pollutes at least a million liters of water in the oceans and leads to the death of many living organisms and microorganisms. One of the most important properties of biodiesel is its rapid decay period: within one month, microorganisms will destroy almost the entire amount of fuel. Thus, if river and sea modes of transport are converted to innovative fuel, the harmful consequences of accidents and diesel leaks can be minimized.
Emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere
Reduced carbon dioxide emissions from combustion is a big plus for biodiesel. According to the assurances of the scientists who deal with these issues, the CO 2 emissions from biodiesel combustion do not exceed the volumes of carbon dioxide processing by those plants that served as a source of raw materials for fuel production throughout the entire life cycle.
Nevertheless, emissions from fuel combustion take place. That is why it is not entirely correct to call biodiesel an environmentally friendly type of fuel. Although some believe that carbon dioxide production is so small that it can be neglected. This statement is highly controversial.
Specifications
Sulfur is considered a harmful impurity and serves as the main source of environmental pollution during combustion. The initial mineral hydrocarbon raw material (oil) for the production of traditional fuels contains quite a lot of phosphorus. This contaminant is removed by all available means. It should be said that modern technologies allow cleaning to be very effective. And all would be well. Yes, only with a decrease in phosphorus concentration do the antifriction properties of a substance drop sharply. Unlike conventional fuel, biodiesel does not need to be purified by phosphorus, since it is practically absent there. Biodiesel has a very good anti-friction effect when it comes into contact with friction surfaces.
The real case that fell into the Guinness Book of Records: a truck (a main cargo truck) drove significantly more than one million kilometers on biodiesel with an engine from the manufacturer. It sounds fantastic, but it's true. The fact is that when using such fuel, the latter also performs the function of a fairy tale of rubbing parts. This leads to the fact that the wear of products occurs much later. A significant increase in the useful life of products is an important direction in increasing the efficiency of economic activities of business entities.
Storage safety
An important (from the point of view of ensuring safety in organizing the storage of fuel reserves) characteristic is the flash point. If the fuel ignites at a low temperature, this is a huge minus. The advantage of biodiesel is that the ignition temperature is at least 150 degrees. When working with biodiesel, safety precautions should not be neglected and negligence should be allowed in the performance of duties. This type of fuel may have a slightly lower explosion hazard compared to gasoline or diesel fuel, but it still poses a greater threat.
Summarizing
Biodiesel is a very promising type of fuel. In the USA and Western countries, it has been actively used for more than twenty years, but in Russia it is given little attention. The reason for this is the high cost of manufacturing biodiesel.
During combustion, biodiesel practically does not emit harmful substances, which positively affects the state of the environment. Production is waste-free, since all that remains of plant fibers after squeezing the oils is given to animal feed.
Slowly but surely, the demand for biodiesel is growing. This attracts investors from all over the world. In the short term, rapid growth in biofuel production is projected.