Bio-diesel production

Bio-diesel can be made from new or used vegetable oils and animal fats, which are nontoxic, biodegradable, and renewable. Fats and oils are chemically reacted with an alcohol (methanol is most commonly used) to produce chemical compounds known as fatty acid methyl esters. Bio-diesel is the name given to these esters when they are intended for use as fuel. Glycerin (used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, among other markets) is produced as a co-product. Bio-diesel can be produced using a variety of trans-esterification technologies. The oils and fats are filtered and preprocessed to remove water and contaminants. If free fatty acids are present, they can be removed or transformed into bio-diesel using special pretreatment technologies. The pretreated oils and fats are then mixed with an alcohol (usually methanol) and a catalyst (usually sodium hydroxide). The oil molecules (triglycerides) are broken apart and reformed into methyl esters and glycerin, which are then separated from each other and purified.

India is sixth in the world in energy demand accounting for 3.5% of world commercial energy consumption and diesel is predominantly consumed for most of the transportation fuel. The transport sector is the most problematic as no realistic alternatives have been found so far.

Bio-diesel is considered an equal replacement of diesel which can be made after trans-esterification of virgin or used vegetable oils (both edible or non-edible). It is meant to be produced in India mainly from Jatropha curcas and, to a extent, from other non-edible virgin oils (in particular Karanj or Pongamia pinnata). It requires little or no engine modification up to 20% blend.