Shaikh 1

Shahrukh Shaikh
Mrs. Pamela Bradley
AP Literature
26 October 2016
The Purpose and Application of Biodiesel
Everyday, fuels emit gases and other harmful vapors that are a detriment to our
biosphere. One can always find latest articles about how gases for fuels that are used everyday
for societys conventional needs. To combat this, the field of biodiesel is growing at a fast rate.
In the early 1900s, biodiesel was first developed by using peanut oil to be put into a regular
diesel engine. Essentially, biodiesel is the product of a transesterification reaction in which a
fatty oil, most commonly soybean oil, is reacted with methanol to form esters. In this particular
investigation, I will determine what other types of oils are useful for the production of oil, and
then later testing their purity and effectiveness through experimentation. Not only this, but also, I
will work to create a manual that one can use to replicate the creation of biodiesel in any
chemistry laboratory. To accomplish this, I will be creating biodiesel from three different types
of oil: soybean, vegetable, and coconut oil. These three fatty oils all contain different chemical
makeups and will be reacted with methanol in a transesterification reaction to see which one
could potentially create the best biodiesel. After the three different biodiesels are created,
applying a few drops to a ball of cotton and then lighting it on fire will give the effectiveness.
The longer the cotton ball burns, the more effective the diesel is. Ultimately, biodiesel is a safer
alternative to conventional diesels and fuels that can be created through a simple reaction;
however, the purity and effectiveness of the resultant fuel can differ based upon what type of oil
is used and the quality of methanol.

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Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is a drug formed from yeasts that were fermented as sugar. This
alcohol is commonly used as the base additive for many fuels, and in fact, over four million cars
in the United States run on ethanol as a fuel (Biodiesel 101). This shows that people rely on
ethanoic fuels to get around, and from here, it can only go up. With so many cars using this
additive as a fuel, negative repercussions are at risk. Since ethanol is a fermented product, it also
considered as a biodiesel; however, there are some key differences that lay between the two.
Biodiesel can only be used in an exclusively diesel-running engine, while fuel made from
ethanol can be run in regular gasoline fuel tanks as well (Biodiesel 101). It is clear as to why
ethanol is the more widely used fuel, as it is simply more practical and has a wider range for
uses. Also, biodiesel is more difficult to produce and procure for a normal person. When
someone is given the choice between something that is simple to get (yet can have
consequences) and something that is more difficult to get (with little to no consequences) that
produce the same effect, then the person will most likely opt out for the former. In regards to
production, biodiesel has its roots in fatty oils such as corn, vegetable and soybean oil. Since
ethanol is also defined as a biodiesel, it too has similar origins. When corn, wheat, or some types
of grass are fermented in a transesterification reaction, ethanol is the resultant product.
In a conventional sense, almost all diesel engines rely on a petroleum based diesel that
fuels the engine. However, these same engines can also run on biodiesel if one were to use it as a
fuel. The usage of biodiesel has many advantages when compared to regular diesel. For instance,
biodiesel is created from 100% renewable sources, as oils can be recycled and later turned into
biodiesel (Alternative Fuels Data Center). The environment thanks society for recycling -biodiesel directly utilizes this! Not only this, but also biodiesel emits little to no air pollutants.

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Pollutants are some of the main things damaging our ecosystem, especially in other nations such
as Japan. With the onslaught of pollutants, society is put at risk healthwise. One of the main
issues present in common fuels and diesels are the harmful chemicals they release into the air,
damaging our cherished ecosystem (Alternative Fuels Data Center). A pollutant that is
commonly given off as a result of fuels is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas
that is the main agent in the warming of the Earth. In regular diesels and fuels, the emission of
carbon dioxide is plentiful and this is deadly for our world. When using biodiesel as a source of
fuel, carbon dioxide emissions are cut by almost 15%. This may not seem like much, but this is a
drastic decrease that can greatly benefit our society! With less carbon dioxide emissions, society
will suffer less from pollution. Although there may be many benefits present in the usage of
biodiesel, there are also flaws (Fuel Economy). Biodiesel is not the most durable fuel, as it can
wear out and potentially even damage an engine if used wrong. Because of this, operators of
machinery that are running on biodiesel must be very careful when handling their machines (Fuel
Economy). The absolute worst thing that could happen to someone is losing his or her life in the
operation of biodiesel. Although unlikely, the chemistry behind biodiesel has many toxic
compounds that are lethal. Because of this, one must be very careful in handling biofuels and
ensure that he or she is following all safety protocol. In regard to pollutants, although biodiesel
may cut down on carbon dioxide pollutants, the emission of nitrogen oxide increases, but this
pollutant is not as harmful as carbon dioxide (Fuel Economy).
The production of biodiesel is not that difficult for anyone to replicate. Although some
may go above and beyond and run make-shift biodiesel plants in their garage, one can create
small samples of biodiesel in a simple beaker. One must start by obtaining a sample of oil

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(Clarke). By definition, biodiesel is created by using a type of fatty oil and later converting it into
a biofuel. Once an oil is ready, the actual process can begin. To start, one must pour methanol
into a beaker and then combine it with sodium hydroxide (lye) (Clarke). Speaking in chemical
terms, one needs the methoxide ion to actually create biodiesel. The reaction between sodium
hydroxide and methanol creates this very ion. To speed up this reaction, hydroxide acts as the
catalyst and later forms the methoxide ion (Clarke). After the sodium hydroxide and methanol
are mixed, one must heat up whatever oil he or she is converting into biodiesel (Clarke). This
should be done to roughly 60 degrees celsius. After the oil is heated, the prior sodium
hydroxide-methanol solution is poured into the oil. At this time, one can leave the resultant
solution for twenty to thirty minutes, as the reaction is being processed. This is the point in
which the transesterification reaction is finally relevant (Clarke). Since the oil is an organic
compound, it contains an alcohol group in its chemical structure. In a similar fashion, the sodium
hydroxide-methanol solution is an organic group with an ester attached to it in its chemical
makeup.
In the reaction, the ester group and alcohol group are switched in the two compounds,
this is what creates the transesterification reaction (Clarke). After waiting twenty to thirty
minutes, two layers will finally have formed. One of these will be a thick, almost soap like,
consistency. This layer is glycerin, a waste product that can be used to make soap or even
compost. But under this, one will find the goal solution, biodiesel.
At the heart of any good biodiesel is the fluid being used to create the fuel. As one can
tell by perusing the grocery store, a plethora of choices are available when looking for oil to turn
into biodiesel. Since the oil needed is a fatty acid, they all are chemically diverse (Clarke). Each

Shaikh 5

type of oil has a certain amount of carbon atoms (with a separate amount of how many double
bonds it can form). Each oil has a different combination of how many carbon atoms and potential
double bonds are present. For instance, soybean oil with eighteen carbon atoms has the only one
double bond available (Tech). If a fatty acid were to not have any double bonds, the resultant
biodiesel would be quite weak as it did not have the optimal chance to chemically react. These
types of oils are saturated (Tech). On the other hand, if a fatty acid does indeed contain double
bonds it is unsaturated. The main con with using unsaturated oil is that it tends to break down
and become unusable faster than a saturated oil (Tech). Since these oils are unstable, they are
known as drying oils and are not optimal oils to use to create biodiesel as the number of
available carbon bonds break down quickly. An example of a drying oil is walnut oil, which is
usually found in compounds such as paint (Tech). To attain the optimal biodiesel sample, one
should use a cooking oil. Cooking oils are unsaturated and contain one single double bond
respective to each fatty acid found in the chemical composition of the oil (Tech). A prime
example of this is canola oil, as it has a high energy content and reacts well with a sodium
hydroxide-methanol solution (Tech). However, biodiesel is not limited to just an oil, but can
broaden to even plants! A common plant used to harvest fluids to create biodiesel is from
microalgae (Chisti). This process is usually more complex and not meant for conventional
biodiesel production, as microalgae would need to be harvested on a large scale so that one can
get the proper amounts of oil needed for the right proportions of biodiesel (Chisti).
Although biodiesel may seem like a legitimate alternative fuel choice, the economics that
lie under biodiesel production are quite interesting. Since biodiesels are created from an oil
which originates from a feedstock, the supply of feedstock is directly related to the demand of

Shaikh 6

biodiesel (Renewable Fuel Standard). This production does not affect just the energy industry,
but multiple parts of the economy (Hill). The production of biofuel originates in the economics
of the foodstuff, forest product, and fossil fuel; however, it goes further beyond this. Biodiesel
production also has an influence on federal spending (Hill). Since the market of energy is so
competitive, the government allocates money from the RFS2 mandate and other tariffs
(Renewable Fuel Standard). These policies segue biofuel production into the agricultural and
conservation industries. As the field of biodiesel interested many economists, the Biofuel
Breakeven (BioBreak) model was created to determine the relative and potential costs of
biofuels. This model determines how much one would be willing to spend on a dry ton of
biomass to ultimately make biodiesel (Renewable Fuel Standard). Through BioBreak, it was
determined that the average oil price would be approximately $111.00 per barrel of oil
(Renewable Fuel Standard). With this price, it has been found that no form of feedstock can exist
that can efficiently accommodate a continuous supply of biodiesel.
As I am creating my own biodiesel samples, a plethora of inquiries will come up that will
need further clarification. Much of this will occur in the part that one cannot actually see, the
actual chemical reactions. Although I may know that the resulting reaction will be a
transesterification reaction, what exactly necessitates this type of reaction? Can any other type of
reaction occur and create biodiesel? The purpose of knowing what the reaction actually does is to
show one the inherent and natural chemical properties of each compound. Each reactant of
biodiesel has its own diverse property that brings the reaction to the state it must be in. For
instance, the chemical bonds present in each reactant are there for a reason and lead to a certain
result. With knowing this information, one can draw conclusions as to why certain chemicals

Shaikh 7

react in certain ways in not just biodiesel production, but any sort of chemical reaction. While I
am carrying out the respective reactions, I will be taking note of each step and writing out each
individual chemical reaction to ensure that I understand what is going on chemically. If one
simply carries out a reaction without paying attention to such detail, then nothing is
accomplished. The reason behind this is that the reaction is done blindly and is simply the
mixing of chemicals. By understanding each step of the reaction, one will develop an intuitive
understanding of the important features and relevant details found in a chemical reaction. With
this information, I will compile a manual that one can read and soon understand what is
necessary in order to understand the process of creating biodiesel. With this manual, anyone with
a basic knowledge of induction and science will be able to create biodiesel.
Without a doubt, questions will arise in the actual physical reaction itself. Since my
personal experiment will be on a smaller scale and not on a larger scale (as if made on a
biodiesel plant), finding precise measurements will be challenging. To accomplish this, I will
look into procedures with existing measurements and scale them down to how much biodiesel I
want to make. However, quantities of biodiesel can vastly differ based on the amount of
reactants. Because of this, it will be necessary to create multiple batches of biodiesel and then
conduct each reaction independently to determine the best ratio of reactants. Currently, there are
not any specific regulations that affect biodiesel production, yet it is recommended that severe
caution is practiced and that production is done in a lab (which I will do). Furthermore, figuring
out what the proper times to let the reaction stand will also be very important. Since most
existing procedures are based on large scale production, the times vary. When scaling the project
down, I will have to repeat the project several times with different reaction standing times to

Shaikh 8

ensure that the optimal amount of biodiesel is produced. Simplifying this experiment does not
alter the experiment mathematically. Instead, the ratio of reactants of product will decrease.
Because of this, no harm is done to the experiment, but simply less biodiesel will be produced.
Eventually, the fuel has to be stored in some way. It has been known that biodiesel is severely
toxic and can be fatal if ingested. Because of this, specifically marked containers will be the
storage system for the biofuel itself. These will be stored in a lab and will be marked with special
chemistry-grade Toxic labels. With all of this being taken into account, the production process
for biofuel will be much more simpler and safer!
A pivotal point of this project is to determine if the biodiesel produced is effective or not.
Since I do not have the means to test it in an actual diesel engine or purchase a thousand dollar
purity tester, another way must be uncovered. Since diesel is a flammable liquid, I hypothesize
that if a few drops of the biodiesel are dropped onto a cotton ball, then a cotton ball that stays lit
(after struck with fire) for a longer period of time will have a higher purity. If a sample of
biodiesel has a high purity, then it is effective. However, since this method is not absolutely
certain, there will be error present. But for the sake of science, this method will still be carried
out to get a rough idea of how effective a sample of biodiesel is.
Throughout the investigation, laboratory safety is a top priority. In this chemical
reactions, all the chemicals used are toxic and could potentially be lethal. To ensure that safety is
always observed, I have to research the proper ways of handling hot oil, methanol, and sodium
hydroxide. Not only this, but also how to handle these chemicals in the reaction itself and with
lab equipment. In any lab experiment, safety comes before all, and this experiment is no

Shaikh 9

exception. I will highlight all safety measures that must be taken in the manual created so that
one can replicate those situations if he or she were to recreate the experiment.
Regarding economics, it is clear to see that biodiesel is not a good alternative to regular
fuels, as it is way too expensive and the production time is substantially longer than that of a
regular diesel. Also, no feedstock in our biosphere can realistically exist that can continuously
sustain a constant supply of biofuel with disrupting the supply of a certain organic compound
(corn, vegetables, etc.).
Ultimately, biodiesel is a simple way to create an alternative fuel source. However, this
source of fuel is more suited towards hobbyists and not for society as a whole. Simply put, the
biodiesel industry is too expensive and there are not enough resources for it to be self sufficient
and thrive in the natural world. Concisely, biodiesel should be simply used as a hobby fuel and
not for society at large.

Shaikh 10

Works Cited
"Biodiesel - America's First Advanced Biofuel!" Biodiesel - America's First Advanced Biofuel!
National Biodiesel, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
"Biodiesel 101." PBS. PBS, 12 Jan. 2007. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.
"Biodiesel." Alternative Fuels Data Center:. U.S. Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 25 Oct.
2016.
"Biodiesel Basics." Union of Concerned Scientists. N.p., 14 Oct. 2016. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.
"Biodiesel." Biodiesel. US Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.
Chisti, Yusuf. "Akhenaten and Tutankhamun: Revolution and Restoration." Choice Reviews
Online 45.02 (2007):. ScienceDirect. Biotechnology Advances, 13 Feb. 2007. Web. 22
Oct. 2016.
Clarke, Nathan R. "Preparation and Viscosity of Biodiesel from New and Used Vegetable Oil.
An Inquiry-Based Environmental Chemistry Laboratory." - Journal of Chemical
Education (ACS Publications). American University, 1 Feb. 2006. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Hill, Jason. "Environmental, Economic, and Energetic Costs and Benefits of Biodiesel and
Ethanol Biofuels." Environmental, Economic, and Energetic Costs and Benefits of
Biodiesel and Ethanol Biofuels. PNAS, 2 June 2006. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
"Renewable Fuel Standard." National Academic Press. Renewable Fuel Standard, n.d. Web. 26
Oct. 2016.
Tech, Rick Da. "Biodiesel Feedstock Oils." How to Make Biodiesel at Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 26
Oct. 2016.

Shaikh 11

Chisti, Yusuf. "Biodiesel from microalgae." Biotechnology advances 25.3 (2007):

294-306.
Chisti speaks about how in the modern day, petroleum based fuels can be quite
detrimental to society. Everyday, astounding amount of carbon dioxide
accumulate in our biosphere. Biodiesel in an alternative; however, it is not
realistic to replace normal transportation fuels.
This source is credible as it is a published scientific journal. Although it comes
from a .com source, the findings seem very well-researched and properly
conveyed. However, only a part of the report is available, and the full version
must be paid for. Fortunately, enough information is available for the free version.
Hill, Jason, et al. "Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of
biodiesel and ethanol biofuels." Proceedings of the National Academy of
sciences 103.30 (2006): 11206-11210.
The main purpose of the article is about how fossil fuels are detrimental to our
biosphere and that healthier alternatives are available. This article goes deep
into different components of biodiesel and what could potentially work very well

Shaikh 12

to produce strong biodiesel. This also brings the economic aspect of biodiesel,
with things such as how the market can fluctuate due to advances in biodiesel.
The source seems quite credible as it is on a published scientific website. Also, it
is from a .org domain. This website provides all information needed such as
author, calculations, and further research done. With all of the information
available and everything fully disclosed, this site is indeed credible as it also
provides insightful analysis about biodiesel.
"Biodiesel." Biodiesel. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2016.
This source goes in depth on the sources, pros and cons of the usage of
biodiesel. However, it tends to go more in depth into the usage of biodiesel in the
transportation industry and not the actual production of biodiesel. Also, it goes
into precautions that one should take when working with biodiesel, meaning that
this site is quite valuable for the usage of the diesel itself.
This source is from the U.S. Department of Energy and a .gov domain. The
publisher seems to not be found, but a majority points to the Environmental
Protection Agency as a host. This is definitely a credible source as it comes from
a government site. Also, the website is very up to date.
"Biodiesel." Alternative Fuels Data Center:. US Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 26
Sept. 2016.
The purpose of this source is to provide one with the basics and how one can go
about finding or working with it in everyday life. To do this, this website has a
Basics section in which it covers the science behind biodiesel, similar to an

Shaikh 13

abstract about the material. Also, it weighs the pros and cons of biodiesel usage,
allowing a new person the ability to understand the benefits of this alternative
source of energy. And ultimately, it provides one a resource to find biodiesel
stations around him or her.
This strictly factual source is definitely a credible site. Being from the U.S.
Department of Energy and a government site, the credibility is certain.
Furthermore, this site provides case studies about biodiesel. This site is clear
from bias, as it is simply factual and does not skew towards the usage or
non-usage of biodiesel.
Clarke, Nathan R., et al. "Preparation and viscosity of biodiesel from new and used
vegetable oil. An inquiry-based environmental chemistry laboratory." J. Chem.
Educ 83.2 (2006): 257.
This website contains research and findings done by another scientist about the
viscosity and preparation of biodiesel. Also, this takes more of the teaching angle
of biodiesel, as it shows how one should teach the process of biodiesel. Because
of this, this source is more geared towards a chemistry or environmental science
teacher, but can still be used for regular biodiesel research.
Since this is an actual scientific publishing and from a .org domain, it is a
credible source. Regarding bias, if anything, this source is biased towards
education about biodiesel, not things such as production. Also, this is just a
portion of the entire research paper, but provides ample information for
preliminary studies that will greatly assist. The only concerning thing is that this

Shaikh 14

research could be potentially outdated, as this source was published ten years
ago.
Sheehan, John, et al. Life cycle inventory of biodiesel and petroleum diesel for use in an
urban bus. Final report. No. NREL/SR--580-24089. National Renewable Energy
Lab., Golden, CO (US), 1998.
The purpose of this source is figuring out how long a sample of biodiesel can
actually last. To broaden on this, this source works to see if biodiesel can be
conventionally used in transportation methods such as an urban bus. Also, many
comparisons are made between biodiesel and standard petroleum diesel. This
also brings many facets of economics in, as the worlds economy brings in many
variables regarding energy sources.
This source is credible as it comes from a government domain. Also, it provides
the names of the people who have published this resource, giving one the ability
to determine if the writers are credible figures or not. A potential issue is that this
source was published in 2001, fifteen years ago. Since then, many elements of
the economy and the science of biodiesel have changed, leading to potential
errors.
Author Lastname, Firstname (if available). Title of Page. Name of Site. Version
number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site, date of resource
creation. Web. Date of access.
Here is where you write three to four sentences of summary. You should start
with a sentence that identifies the main thesis or main idea of the article. After

Shaikh 15

that, you should look for three to four major arguments or ideas that support the
main thesis/idea of the article.
Here is where you write three to four sentences evaluating the credibility or
usefulness of the source. Who is the author and what are their credentials? Who
is the publisher or sponsor ? Are they a credible source, like a university press or
government website? Does the article seem more factual or more opinionated?
How long ago was it published? Is it out of date for the topic you are discussing?
How thorough is the article? Does it appear well-researched?
Guanjie, Zhu Jianliang Zhang. "Current Situation and Development Trend of the
Research and Production of Biodiesel [J]." Chemical Industry Times 1 (2004):
006.
The purpose of this source is to analyze trends and breakthroughs in the
scientific biodiesel community. Also, it takes into account the current (at the time)
state of biodiesel. This source mainly dives into the side of biodiesel dealing with
economics and how the world can deal with this alternative energy source. The
main audience that would deal with this source would probably be either a
chemist or an economist.
The source is definitely credible, as it comes from a respectable scientific
publication with a credentialed author. A potential flaw with this source could be
that it is quite old, being from 2004. Since then, many things have most likely
changed regarding the economics and sciences behind biodiesel. A bias this
article could posses is that it is geared towards economics and the state of

Shaikh 16

China, as this article is Chinese. Because of this, things could be a bit different
when compared to western sources.
Author Lastname, Firstname (if available). Title of Page. Name of Site. Version
number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site, date of resource
creation. Web. Date of access.
Here is where you write three to four sentences of summary. You should start
with a sentence that identifies the main thesis or main idea of the article. After
that, you should look for three to four major arguments or ideas that support the
main thesis/idea of the article.
Here is where you write three to four sentences evaluating the credibility or
usefulness of the source. Who is the author and what are their credentials? Who
is the publisher or sponsor ? Are they a credible source, like a university press or
government website? Does the article seem more factual or more opinionated?
How long ago was it published? Is it out of date for the topic you are discussing?
How thorough is the article? Does it appear well-researched?
Hill, Phillip D. "Biodiesel Basics." Collinsville, IL, USA (2002).
This source is mainly concerned with the production of biodiesel at home and
with multiple different methods. This source is organized as a laboratory exercise
and covers things such as safety information and where one can find ingredients.
The main audience for this work would definitely be a student, as it is very
entry-level material when it comes to biodiesel production. This is very useful, as
it simplifies much of the process behind the production of biodiesel.

Shaikh 17

The credibility of this source is a bit skewed. After analysis of the site, it can be
seen that this source is from a for-profit company that charges its customers with
tips on how to live a life based on alternative energy resources. Also, this sites
layout seems to be a bit on the older side. However, looking at the PDF that is
the actual source, the findings seem quite credible as it follows the production of
biodiesel quite successfully and is consistent when cross-referencing it with other
sources. A potential issue could be that this source is rather old, but the process
to create biodiesel has not changed since, so this is most likely not an issue.