How to make biodiesel

Biodiesel is a fuel that could be defined as 100% ecological. It is obtained through certain process made on vegetal oils or animal fats. In relation to these vegetal oils or animal fats, they may have been used before, or not. The elaboration of biodiesel involves industrial processes that are known as: esterification and transesterification.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of the biodiesel is that the environment contamination is not as bad as it is using other kind of fuel. In addition, biodiesel is better for the engines (it is proven that they last longer with biodiesel fuel). Another advantage is that biodiesel does not degrade with time. It is not toxic or inhalable. Anyway, we have to be careful because the production and massive commercialization of the biodiesel may have as a consequence the exploitation of natural resources.

If you want to check the historical background of the biodiesel, we will find his precursor in Germany. It was Rudolf Diesel, who in 1893 introduced the first engine that worked with peanut oil as fuel. A very visionary man confessed that he thought the future of fuel was in vegetal oils. He also claimed that these kinds of oils could eventually replace petroleum.

About the biodiesel production, the responsible is Chavanne, from Belgium. It was the first person to do that, and it was in 1937. Chavanne described the biodiesel production through transesterification. This process involves separating glycerine from fat acids, replacing the first one other chemical substance (such as alcohol).

But it wasn't until 1977 when the Brazilian scientific named Parente registered the biodiesel production.