Production of Biodiesel from Non-edible Plant Oils having High FFA Content

Biodiesel is a more attractive alternative fuel to diesel engines. Because, it is a renewable and non-polluted fuel that can be producedfrom plant and animal fats. Biodiesel emits low pollutants (except NOx) than petroleum diesel. But the major problem arises for thecommercialization of biodiesel is its cost. Since most of the biodiesels were derived from edible oils like soy bean, sunflower,rapeseed, palm etc. These oils are essentially edible in India and other developing countries. On the other hand, diversion of edible oilsas feed stocks for biodiesel production leads to food crisis. Therefore this research mainly concentrates the non-edible oils as feedstocks for biodiesel production to reduce the cost of biodiesel. Normally alkali catalyzed method was followed for biodieselproduction process. However the non-edible oils having high FFA content which is not suitable for normal transesterification process.Hence a two-step catalyzed method was used to prepare the biodiesel. For this study the following non-edible oil samples such asJatropha, Pongamia, Madhuca and Azhadirachta were used to extract the biodiesel. For this study biodiesel yield from various nonedibleoils and its cost optimization were discussed.