Biodiesel developed from used animal fats, vegetable oils

By Helen Flores

Researchers from the Aklan State University have developed diesel additives from used animal fats and vegetable oils, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) said.

Based on the study, used animal fats and vegetable oils from meat processing plants and food chains can be converted into biodiesel, which may be used in a standard combustion engine without modifications and may be blended with petroleum diesel to improve its quality.

These wastes, the researchers said, produce a clear liquid without unpleasant smell with the same properties as mineral fossil diesel oil.

ASU researchers said an engine fueled by a mixture of 80 percent petroleum diesel and 20 percent biodiesel has lesser smoke emissions and lower engine noise compared to that fueled by pure petroleum diesel.

The study also showed that petroleum diesel and biodiesel were similar in density, viscosity, pH, cloud point, and freezing point.

“Biodiesel does not only provide sustainable energy, but also ensures a sustainable environment because it is renewable or recyclable,” the researchers said.

Citing a previous study by the Department of Science and Technology, PCARRD said the biodiesel from vegetable oils and animal fats have been found to match, if not surpass, petroleum diesel in terms of engine performance and lifespan.

“Incidentally, the problem of disposing 2,000 kilograms of waste animal fats and oils produced by meat product manufacturers and food servers in Kalibo, Aklan and Boracay Island every month motivated the ASU researchers to conduct this study,” PCARRD said.

PCARRD said biodiesel is produced through “transesterification.” In this process, alcohol is used in the presence of a catalyst such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to produce alcohol esters of animal fats with glycerin as byproduct.

PCARRD said it evaluated this study during the recent Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium Research and Development Symposium.

What are the advantages of using biodiesel?

You might have heard a lot about biodiesel. Biodiesel is diesel than can power up your car that is made from vegetable oils and other natural sources. It does not come from the regular crude oil that usually has to be imported from oil-producing countries.

Biodiesel can be considered a new technology, taking into account all the years consumers have had to settle for traditional diesel. Using biodiesel for your car has many advantages:

1. Biodiesel is not harmful to the environment. Unlike its counterpart, a car using biodiesel produces fewer emissions. If a vehicle uses traditional diesel, the vehicle emits black, stinky smoke. With biodiesel, the smoke becomes very clean indeed.

2. Biodiesel may not require an engine modification. Some cars can take advantage of biodiesel without the need to undergo engine alterations. Some mix 20% biodiesel with regular diesel. Doing so enables the car to benefit from the good points of biodiesel without the hassle.

3. Biodiesel is cheap. You can even make biodiesel in your backyard. If your engine can work with biodiesel fuel alone, then you really need not go to the gas station to buy fuel. You can just manufacture some for your own personal use.

4. Biodiesel can make the vehicle perform better. It is noted that biodiesel has a cetane number of over 100. Cetane number is used to measure the quality of the fuel’s ignition. If your fuel has a high cetane number, you can be sure that what you get is a very easy cold starting coupled with a low idle noise.

5. Biodiesel can make your car last longer. Because of the clarity and the purity of biodiesel, you can be sure it will not have too many impurities to harm your car. It is actually more lubrication. A car’s power output is unaffected by this type of diesel.

6. Biodiesel reduces the environmental effect of a waste product. Because biodiesel is made out of waste products itself, it does not contribute to nature’s garbage at all. Biodiesel can be made out of used cooking oils and lards. So instead of throwing these substances away, the ability to turn them into biodiesel becomes more than welcome.

7. Biodiesel is energy efficient. If the production of biodiesel is compared with the production of the regular type, producing the latter consumes more energy. Biodiesel does not need to be drilled, transported, or refined like petroleum diesel. Producing biodiesel is easier and is less time consuming.

8. Biodiesel is produced locally. A locally produced fuel will be more cost efficient. There is no need to pay tariffs or similar taxes to the countries from which oil and petroleum diesel are sourced. Every country has the ability to produce biodiesel.

Biodiesel is surely a viable fuel alternative. Moreover, it is also a sustainable fuel. Using biodiesel not only helps maintain our environment, it also helps in keeping the people around us healthy.

The production of biodiesel all over the world is now being looked upon favorably. In Europe, many biodiesel stations have been set up already. There is also a move to convert or make cars compatible with biodiesel fuel in the near future.

Biodiesel can surely change the way vehicles are manufactured and used. It is surely the best substitute right now, and everyone should consider ways to take advantage of the benefits of biodiesel.