Biodiesel Made Suitable for Standard Diesel Engines Using Three Catalysts

Scientists in Germany have found a way to refine biodiesel to make it suitable for standard diesel engines.

Biodiesel from plant material burns at a different temperature compared to petrodiesel. Hence, only specially designed engines can run on pure biodiesel or blends that contain substantial amounts of biofuel. Researchers in Germany have found a way to transform biofuel from plants for them to meet the boiling characteristics required for commercial diesel sold in the EU.

Existing processes to convert plant oils into biofuel for a standard diesel engine are energy intensive, meaning a significant portion of the fuel is burnt in the process. The team of Lukas Goossen from the Ruhr-Universität Bochumnd looked at catalysts to refine the biodiesel at low temperatures and using very little energy.

The team found that by using three catalysts, they were able to blend rapeseed oil methyl ester and ethylene into a one biofuel with the same boiling characteristics as petrodiesel. However, the catalysts used in the study are expensive and short-lived. Finding a cheaper alternative for commercial production would be the next challenge.