Efficiency of Catalysts During Biofuel Extraction

Abstract

Day-to-day depletion of oil reserves throughout the world and ever-rising prices of fossil fuels and their adverse effects on environment are the key factors which lead to pursuit for an alternate source of energy. Biofuels, particularly biodiesel, are an attractive renewable source of energy, which are generated from various biomass using a different extraction/conversion process like transesterification. Biodiesel production is heavily reliant on feedstock quality, process conditions, and efficiency of the catalyst. Different kinds of catalyst, e.g., homogeneous, heterogeneous, biological, and nano-catalyst, are extensively deployed for production of biodiesel. A catalyst's efficiency depends on various factors like activity, selectivity, and catalyst stability. Homogeneous catalysts face one major hurdle, i.e., separation from the medium, while a heterogeneous catalyst can be conveniently detached from the medium. The approach of biocatalyst for biodiesel production is greener and gaining importance. At present, research is focused on the usage of nanomaterials as a catalyst for the synthesis of biodiesel. In this chapter, efficiency of numerous catalysts towards biodiesel production have been reviewed for various feedstock at varying reaction conditions. Optimum process parameters in terms of reaction time, temperature, alcohol to oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, etc. have also been highlighted for maximization of biodiesel production. Catalysts used for extraction of bio-alcohol have also been reported.