An Indian perspective on biodiesel production from rice By-Products

Abstract

Growing global warming and climate change shifted energy policy to adopt a cleaner and more sustainable way of energy generation across the world. Biodiesel has emerged as a good alternative fuel due to advantages like diesel-like structure and less emission. However, the cost of biodiesel production makes it ineffective compare to the use of diesel especially in a developing country like India. Waste materials as an alternative can help to reduce the cost. In this review rice by-products like rice bran oil and rice husk have been discussed as a cheap and reliable alternative for feedstock and source of catalyst respectively. The Rice bran oil-based biodiesel and Rice husk-based catalyst are briefly discussed using process variables like reaction temperature, yield, etc. Also, the applicability of rice bran biodiesel using engine performance and emission characteristics of biodiesel from rice bran oil is compared and the potential of by-products in India is investigated. Biodiesel production using rice bran oil as a source of free fatty acid and rice husk as a source of catalyst is discussed thoroughly. In conclusion, the rice by-products as input appeared as a good and sustainable alternative for biodiesel production in India.