Alternatives to fossil fuel based petroleum are necessary as the limited abundancy and environmental effects of this natural resource have become apparent. Biodiesel from renewable feedstocks is one option that has been of great interest for many years. Rapeseeds are one popular source of oil for biodiesel due to its high yield per acre, the ability to withstand a wide range of soil quality, and the low gel point of the resulting biodiesel. Previously, rapeseed oil has been converted to biodiesel through transesterification in the presence of a catalyst such as a mixed metal oxides or sulfuric acid. Prior to transesterification, the rapeseeds must be shelled and the seeds separated from the husks. Then the oil must be extracted with <i>n</i>-hexane, chloroform, and toluene and then separated from those solvents. These steps are time and energy consuming and the solvents involved negatively impact environmental and organism health. In this talk, a method of producing biodiesel directly from rapeseeds in one step and without a catalyst will be discussed. This method could make biodiesel production from rapeseeds considerably faster, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly.

Biodiesel from rapeseeds

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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