Biodiesel Fuel Education Program

 

Biodiesel is a diesel fuel replacement made from vegetable oil or animal fat. It is not the same as ethanol, which is made from sugar or starch, and which is used in engines that run on gasoline. Biodiesel is used in engines that run on diesel fuel.

 

The University of Idaho has been involved in biodiesel research since 1979. The Biodiesel Fuel Education Program is committed to providing unbiased, science-based information about biodiesel for biodiesel producers and distributors, fleet operators, farmers and feedstock producers, policy makers, and consumers.

Biodiesel is of interest because:

• it is a renewable fuel which can help reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels
• it has a low carbon footprint, and so can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• it produces much less air pollution than conventional diesel
• it can provide an additional source of income to farmers who grow oilseed crops

Biodiesel can be made from most any vegetable oil or animal fat. Research at the University of Idaho has involved the following types of oils:

• mustard seed oil
• rapeseed oil
• canola oil
• soybean oil
• hydrogenated soybean oil
• tallow (animal fat)
• and others

The basic ingredients of biodiesel are:

• vegetable oil or animal fat
• alcohol (typically ethanol or methanol)
• a hydroxide catalyst (typically sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide)

Put very simply, the ingredients are mixed in a stainless steel batch reactor and stirred. After the reaction (called esterification) takes place, the heavier glycerol component settles to the bottom and the resulting ester is pumped off to be used as biodiesel.

Biodiesel Safety Video -- this 10-minute video on YouTube helps home biodiesel producers understand how to safely handle the chemicals used in biodiesel production.

 

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