Biodiese L
Biodiese L
Page
Abstract 1
Uses of Biodiesel 1
Importance of Biodiesel 2
Production 3
Project Overview 3
Making Biodiesel 4
Does Biodiesel Work in the Cold? 9
Risk–Benefit Analysis 9
Determining the Energy Content of Biodiesel 11
Conclusion 12
Abstract
Biodiesel refers to a nonpetroleum-based diesel fuel consisting of short chain
alkyl (methyl or ethyl) esters, made by transesterification of vegetable oil or
animal fat (tallow), which can be used (alone, or blended with conventional
petrol diesel) in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles. Biodiesel is
distinguished from the straight-vegetable oil (SVO) (sometimes referred to
as "waste vegetable oil" "WVO" "used vegetable oil" "UVO" "pure plant
oil", "PPO") used(alone, or blended) as fuels in some converted diesel
vehicles. Biodiesel is standardized as mono-alkyl ester and other kinds of
diesel- grade fuels of biological origin are not included.
Uses of Biodiesel
Generating Electricity
Fuel-cells have power-generation applications that could utilize biodiesel.
Biodiesel can be used in backup systems where the substantial reduction in
emissions really matters: hospitals, schools, and other facilities usually
located in residential areas. It can also be used to supplement solar power in
off-the grid homes.
Importance of Biodiesel
Below are certain features of the fuel:
1) Biodegradable and Renewable Fuel.
2) Safer to use and has low toxicity compared to fossil diesel fuel.
3) Lower exhaust emission rate than normal diesel fuel.
4) As per ASTM D 6751 quality parameters, the quality of diesel is analyzed.
5) Using biodiesel doesn’t require any diesel engine modification.
Project Overview
Previous science courses probably taught you that molecules store chemical
potential energy, which can be released when chemical bonds in matter are
broken and new bonds are formed. Maybe you’ve even completed an
experiment to determine the energy in a sample of food or fuel. Whether oil
is crude or plant-based — peanut oil, palm oil, olive oil, or canola oil — it
has molecules that are often described as “energy rich.”
Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, demonstrated in 1900 at the
world’s fair in Paris that an engine could run on peanut oil rather than
petroleum-based fuels.
Making Biodiesel
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is made from vegetable and animal oils.
It can be used directly in diesel vehicles or blended with traditional
petroleum diesel. You will discover during this lab how easy it is to make
and store biodiesel. The chemical reaction to produce biodiesel is as
follows:
Safety:
• You must wear goggles, gloves, and an apron.
Procedure:
Note: Biodiesel is made using three main components: oil, alcohol, and a
base catalyst. This procedure provides a variety of alternative
materials that you could use to produce the biodiesel. Your teacher
will direct you to which materials you will be using.
Making Biodiesel:
1. Measure out 100 mL of oil using a graduated cylinder, and pour the oil
into one of the Erlenmeyer flasks.
2. Record observations of colour, viscosity, clarity, and other aspects of
the appearance of the starting material (oil).
3. Check that the temperature of the water bath is between 40 °C and 65
°C. Place the Erlenmeyer flask containing the oil sample into a water
bath set up by your teacher.
4. While your oil is warming, measure out 20 mL of methanol using a 50
mL graduated cylinder and pour it into a second Erlenmeyer flask.
5. To the Erlenmeyer flask containing the methanol, add ONE of the
following:
15 mL of 1.0 mol/L NaOH(aq) solution, 15 mL of KOH(aq) solution,
0.6 g of NaOH(s), or 0.9 g of KOH(s). Swirl your mixture of
methanol and base gently to mix. This mixture is called methoxide.
• If using a solid base, the mixture should be swirled or stirred until
the solid base dissolves completely.
• To prevent evaporation, this mixture should be stoppered until it is
ready to be added to the oil.
6. Pour the methoxide mixture into the warm oil in the Erlenmeyer flask.
7. Stir, swirl, or stopper and gently shake the mixture for several minutes.
The mixture will become cloudy and turn a milky colour. A stopper or
aluminum foil can be used on the flask to control fumes.
A Risk–Benefit Analysis
Our society is dependent on petroleum products for heat, electricity, and
transportation. Unfortunately, petroleum is a limited and non-renewable
resource. In addition, the supply of petroleum products is not always reliable,
resulting in fluctuating fuel prices. Researchers are searching for ways to
supplement and/or replace petroleum fuels, and consumers are looking for
cheaper alternatives.
Biodiesel is a fuel that has been proposed as either an alternative or as a means
to supplement petroleum-diesel or gasoline.
Complete a risk–benefit analysis to answer the following question: Should the
production and sale of biodiesel be promoted in Canada? Use the Internet and
other text sources as well as information you collected, analyzed, and evaluated
while doing this project to help you formulate your opinion.
In preparing your analysis, consider a variety of issues including the following:
reliability, safety, economic impact, environmental impact, accessibility of the
resource, production potential, long-term viability as a resource, and other
relevant issues.
Supporting statements should be provided for all opinions and evaluations
made.
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Present your risk–benefit analysis as a poster, PowerPoint presentation, or
flowchart.
Materials:
• 3, 25 × 200 mm test tubes
• distilled water
• vegetable oil (used as a reactant in
Part 1)
• methanol (the alcohol used in Part
1)
• biodiesel (produced from vegetable
oil in Part 1)
• 3 spirit burners
• test-tube clamp and stand
• thermometer and clamp
• safety goggles, gloves, and aprons
• 50 mL graduated cylinder matches
Procedure:
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3. Position the test tube so that the bottom of the test tube is 2 cm above the
wick of the unreacted spirit burner containing the vegetable oil.
4. Use a thermometer to measure the initial temperature of water inside the
test tube. Record the initial temperature of the water in Table 4 on page 6.
5. Light the wick of the spirit burner and use the flame to heat the bottom of
the test tube for 60 seconds.
6. Remove the spirit burner from underneath the test tube, and use the burner
lid to extinguish the flame.
7. Use the thermometer to measure the final temperature of the water.
Record the temperature in Table 4 on page 6.
8. Measure the mass of the spirit burner, and record the value in Table 4 on
page 6.
9. Repeat steps 2 through 8 using a new test tube with water and the spirit
burner containing the alcohol.
10. Repeat steps 2 through 8 using a new test tube with water and the spirit
burner containing the biodiesel produced in Part 1 of the project.
Conclusion
Biodiesel is currently about one and a half times more expensive than petroleum
diesel fuel. Part of this cost is because the most common source of oil is the
soybean, which only is only 20% oil. However, the costs of biodiesel can be
reduced by making biodiesel from recycled cooking oils rather than from new
soy beans, or by making it from plant matter with higher oil content.
It takes energy to produce biodiesel fuel from soy crops, including the energy of
sowing, fertilizing and harvesting.
Biodiesel fuel can damage rubber hoses in some engines, particularly in cars
built before 1994. You should check with the manufacturer before using
biodiesel to see if you need to replace any hoses or rubber seals.
Biodiesel cleans the dirt from the engine. This dirt then collects in the fuel filter,
which can clog it. Clogging occurs most often when biodiesel is first used after
a period of operation with petroleum diesel, so filters should be changed after
the first several hours of biodiesel use.
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