Nonconventional Lipid Sources for Biodiesel Production

Abstract

In the beginning, the diesel engine ran on vegetable oil, and it was peanut oil, an edible oil, that was first used for this purpose. As fossil fuels may become scarce and prices could escalate, soybean, canola/rapeseed, and other known oils are being used. As the discussion on food security, environmental protection, and energy generation continues, alternative sources of oils or fats for biodiesel synthesis are being studied. Waste frying oil and animal fats have also been used as feedstock for biodiesel production at the same time as nonedible oils ( Jatropha , castor), oil industrial plants coproduct (palm fatty acid distillate), and unconventional lipid sources (microbial oils and sewage sludge) have now been brought into light. When it comes to long‐term implementation of adoption in a commercial scale one of these so‐called nonconventional lipid sources, what has been observed is that continuous production of regular quality feedstock, adequate infrastructure for collecting or harvesting, storing, processing, and transporting (logistics) prevails; only cost‐effective choices have proven successful.