Biodiesel

The biodiesel is the methyl ether received in chemical reaction from vegetable oils and animal fats.

Molecules of fat consist of triglyzerides: formations of trivalent spirit of glycerin with three fat acids. For producing of a methyl ether, to nine mass units of vegetable oil are added one mass unit of a methanol (i.e. the parity 9:1 is observed) and a small amount of the alkaline catalyst. This structure mixes up in reactor columns at temperature 60°С and normal pressure. The result of this chemical reaction is a desirable methyl ether, and also a by-product - the glycerin, which is widely used in the pharmaceutical and paint and varnish industries. The received ether differs from others with good ignition, that is provided with high cethan number. Instead of cethan number of mireral diesel (50-52), cethan number of a biodiesel (a methyl ether) is 56-58. It allows to use biodiesel in diesel engines without any substances that stimulate the ignition. Owing to such property, the methyl ether received from vegetable oils and fats, has been named a "biodiesel".

Besides rather high cethan numbers, biofuel has a lot of other useful properties:

Phytogenesis. We shall emphasize, that the biodiesel does not smell with benzol and is made of oil; this oil is made of plants (usually it is a rape), that improve structural and a chemical compound of ground in systems of a crop rotation.

Biological harmlessness. In comparison with mineral oil (1 litre of mineral oil is capable to pollute 1 million litres of potable water and to destroy flora and fauna in the water), biodiesel (by results of experiences), by interacting with water, does not damage plants and animals. Besides, biodiesel is exposed to practically full biological disintegration: microorganisms (in ground or in water) process, during a month, 99 % of a biodiesel; it will minimize a pollution of the rivers and the lakes if a sailing charter will use an alternative fuel.

There are less emissions of СО2. In a process of combustion of a biodiesel, allocates the same quantity of carbonic gas which was consumed from an atmosphere by a plant, which is used as raw material in producing of this oil, for all period of its life. Nevertheless, it is necessary to notice, that it would be incorrect to name a biodiesel ecologically pure fuel. It produces smaller quantity of carbonic gas in an atmosphere than the usual diesel, but it is not a “zero” emission.

Rather "pure" fuel. Some components of exhaust gases are limited in a world practice. Among them: monooxide of carbon – CO (non-burned hydrocarbons), oxides of nitrogen – NOX, and soot. The advantages of a biodiesel, concerning to the products of a combustion, such as monooxide of carbon, hydrocarbons, residual particles and soot, are obvious.

The low maintenance of sulfur. It is not a secret, that the emissions of harmful substances could be decreased by the catalyst –oxicate, which is transforming hydrocarbons and oxide of carbon in water and carbonic gas. But it is necessary to note, that the oxicate is sensitive to the presence of a sulfur in fuel; the sulfur is "poisoning" the catalyst for a long time and lead to the increasing of emission of a residual particles. But the biodiesel (in comparison with mineral analogue) does not almost contain sulfur (<0,001 % against <0,2 % in mineral diesel). This is the very important advantage.

Well lubricant characteristics. A mineral diesel loses the lubricant abilities after the process of elimination of sulphurous connections from it. The biodiesel, despite of "scarcity " with the sulfur, is characterized by well lubricant properties. It is caused by its chemical compound and the maintenance of oxygen in it.

The increasing of the duration of engine service life. While engine is working using biodiesel fuel, its mobile parts are greasing; this appearance leads to increasing of the duration of the service life of engine and fuel pump on 60%.

High temperature of ignition. There is one more technical parameter, which should be very interesting to the organizations, which are engaged in storing and transporting of PETROLEUM PRODUCTS: a point of ignition. For a biodiesel engine, this value exceeds 100°С, that allows to name biofuel a rather safe substance. Nevertheless, it does not mean that the negligence attitude towards biodiesel is possible.