Triacylglycerol-based fuels: An evaluation

Authors: Knothe, Gerhard

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2018
Publication Date: 3/18/2018
Citation: Knothe, G.H. 2018. Triacylglycerol-based fuels: An evaluation [abstract]. American Chemical Society National Meeting, March 18-22, 2018, New Orleans, LA. Paper No. ANYL 265.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A variety of feedstocks exist and several processes have been developed to produce alternative diesel fuels from triacylglycerol-based materials, such as plant and algal oils as well as animal fats and used cooking oils. Biodiesel is obtained by transesterifying a triacylglycerol feedstock with an alcohol, usually methanol, to give the corresponding alkyl esters with glycerol as a co-product. A fuel best termed renewable diesel is derived by a hydro-deoxygenation reaction to give a fuel consisting largely of alkanes as they are found in petroleum-based diesel fuel. A third approach is decarboxylation of fatty acids to give a mixture of alkene isomers. Production, composition and properties of the three fuels are evaluated including consideration of the effect of different feedstocks on these aspects.