What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a liquid fuel produced from vegetable oils and animal fats,
The properties of the biodiesel are essentially the same as the gas oil (diesel)
automotive density and cetane number. (cetane number is used to
characterize the volatility and ease of inflammation of the fuels used in diesel
engines.) A flash point above is presented. Therefore, the biodiesel can be
blended with diesel fuel for use in engines or even completely replace.
Biodiesel can be made through four techniques, these are: direct use and mixing
raw oils, microemulsions, transesterification and pyrolysis. but the most used is the
transesterification, so we will focus on this

why we use the transesterification to produce biodiesel

Transesterification is said to be the most favourable reaction in producing
biodiesel because it can reduce the oil viscosity. The Transesterification is a
chemical reaction in which a vegetable oil is reacted with methanol by the
action of a catalyst. which is generally (sodium hydroxide) and this produces
biodiesel and glicerol.
The process continues with the separation of biodiesel and glycerol followed
by the recovery of alcohol. Alcohol recovered is recycled back to the process
while the initial methyl ester produced is sent for purification, also known as
the washing step. Then subjected to a drying process, where the biodiesel is
obtained.
biodiesel feedstock can be classified into three groups, edible oils, inedible oilsand
reusable waste.
in group 1 are: canola and soja oil
in group 2 are: used cooking oil and poultry fat
in group 3 are: Waste grease
FFA: Free fatty acids acidos grasos libres.

El biodisel es un biocarburante lquido producido a partir de los aceites vegetales

y grasas animales,
Las propiedades del biodisel son prcticamente las mismas que las del gasleo
(gasoil) de automocin en cuanto a densidad y nmero de cetano. Adems,
presenta un punto de inflamacin superior. Por todo ello, el biodisel puede
mezclarse con el gasoleo para su uso en motores e incluso sustituirlo totalmente si
se adaptan stos convenientemente.
el biodiesel se puede realizar por medio de cuatro tcnicas, estas son: uso directo
y aceites primas de mezcla, microemulsiones, transesterificacin, y la pirlisis.
pero el mas utilizado es la transesterificacion, asi que nos vamos a enfocar en
este

por qu usamos la transesterificacion para producir biodiesel

La transesterificacin se dice que es la reaccin ms favorable en la
produccin de biodiesel, ya que puede reducir la viscosidad del aceite. La
transesterificacin es una reaccin qumica en la que un aceite vegetal se
hace reaccionar con metanol por la accin de un catalizador. que es
generalmente (hidrxido de sodio)
El proceso contina con la separacin de biodiesel y glicerol seguido por el
proceso de recuperacin de alcohol

materia prima del biodiesel se puede clasificar en tres grupos, aceites

comestibles, aceites no comestible y desechos reutilizables.
en el grupo 1 tenemos: el aceite de canola
en el grupo 2 tenemos: el aceite palma
en el grupo 3 tenemos: aceite usado de cocina