Ameer Randolph
As the demand for fuel increases, alternative sources to crude oil are being explored, such as using animal fats to make biodiesel. Biodiesel is a liquid created by chemically processing fats and oils into biodiesel and glycerin. Animal fats are highly saturated, which means they solidify at a relatively high temperature, so biodiesel made from animal fat has a high cloud point and tends to gel at high temperatures. However, biodiesel from animal fats has a high cetane number, which is an important quality parameter for diesel fuels, and it also lowers the levels of harmful pollutants in the exhaust of diesel engines.
Characteristics and Values of Making Diesel Fuel from Animal Fat
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Feedstock | Animal fats such as beef tallow, pork lard, and chicken fat |
| Advantages | Animal fats are cheaper than vegetable oils, and their use as feedstock allows for the mitigation of environmental pollution and enhancement of biodiesel features |
| Process | Rendering (grinding, cooking, and pressing), transesterification, catalytic conversion, and non-catalytic supercritical alcohol transesterification |
| By-products | High-protein feed additive ("meat and bone meal") |
| Challenges | High viscosity, cloudiness, presence of sulfur, and potential engine damage due to solids |
| Safety | Requires a well-ventilated area with safety equipment and may be illegal for home production |
| Use | Can be blended with petro-diesel but not gasoline; suitable for diesel engines and the aviation sector |
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What You'll Learn
Animal fat feedstocks
Animal fats are highly saturated, which means that the biodiesel made from them has a high cloud point. In other words, the fuel solidifies at a relatively high temperature. For example, biodiesel made from beef tallow and pork lard has a cloud point range of 55°F to 60°F. Therefore, biodiesel made from animal fat should only be used in very warm climates unless it is blended with petro-diesel.
Animal fats can be challenging feedstocks for biodiesel because they often contain contaminants like phospholipids, or gums, that should be removed before the fuel is used in an engine. These contaminants will cause insoluble precipitates when they come into contact with water, which will plug fuel filters. However, most of this material will separate during processing or be removed during the purification step, so it is rare for these compounds to be found in the final fuel.
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The rendering process
Animal fats are highly saturated, which means they solidify at a relatively high temperature. Therefore, biodiesel made from animal fat has a high cloud point and a high gel point. For example, biodiesel made from beef tallow and pork lard has a cloud point range of 55°F to 60°F. B100 (pure biodiesel) made from animal fat should only be used in a very warm climate. However, biodiesel from animal fat can be blended with petro-diesel.
Animal fats contain very little of the polyunsaturated fatty acids that make vegetable oils prone to rancidity. However, animal fats also contain fewer natural antioxidants like vitamin E, which protect vegetable oils. Animal fat feedstocks result in biodiesel with a high cetane number, an important quality parameter for diesel fuels. The saturated fatty acids are the source of this high cetane number, and values over 60 are common.
Animal fats can be challenging feedstocks for biodiesel because they frequently contain contaminants that should be removed before the fuel is used in an engine. Phospholipids, or gums, will cause insoluble precipitates when they come into contact with water. Since these precipitates will plug fuel filters, they must be removed from the fuel. Most commonly, the gums are removed by adding water and citric or phosphoric acid to the feedstock and then separating the precipitates with a centrifuge.
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Biodiesel properties
Biodiesel is a liquid created by chemically processing agricultural products such as vegetable oils, used cooking oils, yellow grease, and animal fats. The process of converting fats and oils into biodiesel and glycerin is called transesterification. Biodiesel can be used as a direct replacement for diesel fuel in vehicle engines, or as a blending component.
Biodiesel derived from animal fats has several advantages over conventional diesel. It is a renewable energy source, and its production helps to mitigate environmental pollution. Animal fat feedstocks result in biodiesel with a high cetane number, which is an important quality parameter for diesel fuels. This high cetane number helps the engine start more quickly and run more quietly. Biodiesel also lowers the levels of harmful pollutants in the exhaust of diesel engines.
However, there are some challenges associated with using animal fats as feedstocks for biodiesel. Animal fats frequently contain contaminants that should be removed before the fuel is used in an engine. Phospholipids, or gums, will cause insoluble precipitates when they come into contact with water, and these precipitates will plug fuel filters. Polyethylene in the fat, originating from plastic bags, ear tags, or other plastic that is mixed with the animal byproducts, can also cause cloudiness in the fuel and may plug the fuel filter. Animal fats may also contain high levels of sulfur, which is restricted in biodiesel sold for on-highway use.
The use of animal fats for biodiesel production also raises ethical issues, as edible fats are derived from food crops. The use of arable land, water, and fertilizer in "growing fuel" instead of food can affect food prices and sustainability.
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Blending biodiesel with petro-diesel
Biodiesel is rarely used in its pure form and is typically blended with diesel. The blend percentage of biodiesel is indicated by a "B" factor. For example, B20 contains 20% biodiesel, with the remainder being traditional diesel. B20 is a common blend because it represents a good balance of cost, emissions, cold-weather performance, and compatibility with conventional engines. Most biodiesel users purchase B20 or lower blends.
B20 and lower-level blends can be used in current engines without modifications. Engines operating on B20 have similar fuel consumption, horsepower, and torque to engines running on petroleum diesel. B20 with 20% biodiesel content will have 1% to 2% less energy per gallon than petroleum diesel, but many B20 users report no noticeable difference in performance or fuel economy. B20 and other blends of 20% biodiesel and lower can be used in diesel equipment with only minor modifications.
High-level blends, such as B100, can impact engine warranties, gel in cold temperatures, and present unique storage issues. B100 use could also increase nitrogen oxide emissions. B100 requires special handling and may require equipment modifications. To avoid engine operational problems, B100 must meet certain specifications.
Biodiesel blends can be created by mixing biodiesel and petroleum diesel in tanks at the manufacturing point before delivery to a tanker truck, splash mixing in the tanker truck, in-line mixing, or metered pump mixing.
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Storing biodiesel
Biodiesel is a good solvent and can be corrosive. It will dissolve rubber and some plastics, remove paint, oxidize aluminium and other metals, and has been reported to destroy asphalt and concrete if spills are not cleaned quickly. Therefore, it is important to store biodiesel in appropriate containers. Finished biodiesel should be stored in steel drums, poly totes, or yellow diesel cans, and these containers should be clearly marked as containing biodiesel.
Biodiesel made from animal fat has a high cloud point, which means that it solidifies at a relatively high temperature. For example, biodiesel made from beef tallow and pork lard has a cloud point in the range of 55°F to 60°F. Pure biodiesel made from animal fat should only be used in a very warm climate. However, animal fat biodiesel can be blended with petro-diesel, which has a lower gel point. This blend has a lower freezing point and can be used in colder climates.
Biodiesel should be stored at above-freezing temperature. Temperature-controlled heaters can be installed on tanks and fuel lines in diesel vehicles. Some vehicles have heated fuel filters that also help keep biodiesel above the gel point.
Animal fats contain very little of the polyunsaturated fatty acids that make vegetable oils prone to rancidity. However, animal fat is not always more stable than vegetable oil because vegetable oils often contain natural antioxidants. Animal fat feedstocks result in biodiesel with a high cetane number, which is an important quality parameter for diesel fuels. The saturated fatty acids are the source of this high cetane number, and values over 60 are common.
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Frequently asked questions
Biodiesel is a liquid created by chemically processing material from an agricultural product such as vegetable oils. Its properties are altered to make it perform like petroleum diesel.
First, animal fat must be rendered by grinding animal by-products into a fine consistency and cooking them until the liquid fat separates and pathogens are destroyed. Then, the fat is chemically reacted with alcohol and a catalyst to produce biodiesel.
Common sources of animal fat used for biodiesel include beef tallow, pork lard, and chicken fat.
Animal fats contain very little of the polyunsaturated fatty acids that make vegetable oils prone to rancidity. Animal fat biodiesel also has a high cetane number, which helps the engine start more quickly and run more quietly.
