Chemistry Project
NAME: FEBINESH KANNAN DJ
CLASS: XII ‘A’
Acknowledgement
It gives me great pleasure to
express my gratitude towards
our chemistry teacher Mrs
Revathy for her guidance,
support and
encouragement throughout the
duration of the project.
Without her motivation and
help the successful completion
of this project would not
have been possible.
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that
febinesh kannan dj
of class XII has
completed the
chemistry project
entitled
Himself and under my
guidance. The progress of
the project has been
continuously reported and
has been in my knowledge
consistently.
SUBJECT INCHAR
G E:- Mrs. _
Contents
Acknowledgement
Certificate
What is Biodiesel?
Uses of Biodiesel
Preparation of Biodiesel
Reactions involved
Biodiesel fuel features
Disadvantages of Biodiesel
Bibliography
W hat is
Biodiesel?
Biodiesel refers to a non-petroleum-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
Biodiesel fuel is a renewable energy source that can be made from soy beans
grown for fuel, or from cooking oils recycled from restaurants. This means it
is a renewable resource unlike petroleum-based diesel.
There is an excess production of soybeans in the United States;
therefore biodiesel is an economic way to utilize this surplus.
Biodiesel is less polluting than petroleum diesel. Compared to petroleum
diesel, biodiesel produces less soot (particulate matter), carbon monoxide,
unburned hydrocarbons, and sulfur dioxide.
The absence of sulfur in 100% biodiesel should extend the life of
catalytic converters.
Biodiesel fuel can also be used in combination with heating oil to heat
residential and industrial buildings. This can reduce dependence on non-
renewable and increasingly expensive heating oil.
Biodiesel burns cleaner & is made of non-toxic chemicals so it does not
give out poisonous fumes, unlike the ordinary fuel.
I n s t r u ct io ns to Prepare
Bio Diesel
Requirements:
Vegetable oil
Antifreeze (Methanol)
Lye (NaOH)
Blender
Scales
Plastic containers
Funnels
Plastic bottle with lid
Duct tape
Thermometer
Steps
Involved:
Step 1:
Measure out 200 ml of antifreeze and put it in one
plastic container.
Step 2:
Add in lye so that the antifreeze is absorbed.
Step 3:
Cover container and mix well by shaking it. It is mixed
when it starts to feel warm and is foamy. The mixture
has now become sodium methoxide.
Step 4:
Blend 1 liter of vegetable oil with the sodium
methoxide in a blender for 20 minutes.
Step 5:
Pour mixture into a bottle and wait 8 hours until the
byproduct, glycerin, separates form the biodiesel.
The glycerin will be on the solid on the bottom.
Step 6:
Separate out the biodiesel by pouring into a glass
bottle.
Step 7:
Prepare a wash bottle by poking a small hole in
the corner of the bottle and covering it with
duct tape.
Step 8:
Wash the biodiesel by pouring it into the wash bottle
and adding in ½ a liter of water. Roll the bottle
around to mix it and then remove the duct tape and
drain the water.
Step 9:
Repeat the washing process until the biodiesel is
clear. This may need to be done numerous times
over the course of a week to complete the process.
Store the biodiesel in a glass container until ready
to use.
Re a c t i o
ns
involved
Transesterification:
Animal & plant fats & oils are typically made of
triglycerides which are esters of free fatty acids
with the trihydric alcohol, glycerol. In the
transesterification process, the alcohol is
deprotonated with a base to make it a stronger
nucleophile. Commonly, ethanol or methanol is used.
As can be seen, the reaction has no other inputs
than the triglyceride & the alcohol.
Normally, this reaction will precede either
exceedingly slowly or not at all. Heat, as well as an
acid or base are used to help the reaction more
quickly.
Biodiesel is a much cleaner fuel than conventional
fossil-fuel petroleum diesel
Biodiesel burns up to 75% cleaner than petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel reduces unburned hydrocarbons (93% less), carbon monoxide
(50% less) & particulate matter (30% less) in exhaust fumes, as well as
cancer-causing PAH (80% less).
Sulphur dioxide emissions are eliminated (biodiesel contains no Sulphur).
Biodiesel is a plant-based & using it adds no extra CO 2 greenhouse
gas to the atmosphere.
The ozone-forming (smog) potential of biodiesel emissions is nearly 50%
less than petrol-diesel emissions.
Nitrogen oxide emissions may increase or decrease with biodiesel but
can be reduced to well below petrol-diesel fuel levels.
Biodiesel exhaust is not offensive & doesn’t cause eye irritation.
Biodiesel can be mixed with petrol-diesel in any proportion, with no
need for a mixing additive.
With slight variations depending on the vehicle, performance & fuel
economy with biodiesel is the same as with petrol-diesel.
B i o d i e sel ’ s fuel f e a t u res
Power: One of the major advantages is the fact that
it can be used in exiting engines & fuel injection
equipment (no modification required) without negative
impact to operating performance.
Fuel availability/economy: Virtually the same MPG rating
as petrol-diesel & the only alternative fuel for
heavyweight vehicles requiring no special dispensing &
storage equipment.
Production/Refining: Can be done at home (wasted veggie
oil) & farms (virgin oils from seeds), being the only
alternative fuel that can boost of a zero total emissions
production facility. By selling the simultaneously produced
glycerol, the cost of BD is basically the same cost of the oil
used to make it.
Storage: Readily blends & stays blended with petrol-diesel
so it can be stored & dispensed wherever diesel is stored
or sold.
Combustibility/Safety: Biodiesel has a very high flash point
(300⁰F) making it one of the safest of all alternative fuels.
Lubricity: The only alternative fuel that can actually extend
engine life because of its superior lubricating &
cleaning properties. The present “low sulphur” diesel fuel is
badly wearing the injection pumps of not protected diesel engine.
Usage: Biodiesel fuel can generally be used in existing oil
heating systems and diesel engines without modification, and it
can be distributed through existing diesel fuel pumps. This is
an advantage over other alternative fuels, which can be
expensive to use initially due to high cost of equipment
modifications or new purchases. Biodiesel provides almost the
same energy per gallon as petroleum diesel.
Environment Impact: The only renewable alternative diesel fuel
that actually reduces major greenhouse gas components in the
atmosphere. The use of biodiesel will also reduce the following
emissions: carbon monoxide, ozone-forming- hydrocarbons,
hazardous diesel particulate, acid rain-causing sulphur dioxide,
lifecycle carbon dioxide.
Disadvantages of
Biodiesel
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.
Bibliography
All the information in the project has been
gathered from internet.
Websites used:
Google
Free encyclopedia on biodiesel
Transesterification
chemistry for preparing
biodiesel
Biodiesel features
Making your own biodiesel
Fact file of biodiesel
