Virgin Oils, Recycled Oils, and Yellow
Grease Biodiesel
The oil and fats used to produce Biodiesel will dictate important
properties of the fuel, including:
- Cold Flow- at what temperature the diesel crystallizes
- Energy Content- saturated fats have more energy
- Oxidative Stability- some oils, such as soy, have antioxidants
which yield a longer shelf-life.
Each type of oil or grease can be made into excellent quality
Biodiesel.
Virgin oil is vegetable oil that is usually
grown, crushed, pressed, filtered for the oil and other co-products,
such as meal. Many different oil bearing crops are grown around
the world.
- Soybean Oil is the most common virgin
oil for Biodiesel in the USA. Farmers in the Mid-west can
grow use a soybean for oil, animal feed, and other products
such as vitamin E.
- Rapeseed Oil is the most common oil for
Biodiesel in Europe. Rapeseed oil is also very common in
Canada, known as the Canadian variety canola.
- Mustard Seed Oil is an oil with a lot
of potential. Mustard seed can be used for oil as well as
an organic pesticide from the oil.
- Algal Oil might be the next big thing
for Biodiesel. Some algaes are 50% oil!
Recycled Oil is waste restaurant grease
or used vegetable oil that is collected and made into Biodiesel.
Many restaurants and business currently throw away used oil
in the dumpster. Using our waste streams as feedstocks for
other products is always a sustainable option.
Many Renderers will collect used oil from restaurants to
make Yellow Grease.
Yellow grease is a combination of many things,
including used restaurant grease and animal fats from rendered
animals. It is a commodity (like oil, diesel, and gasoline)
and traded on the open market. Yellow Grease can also be made
into high quality Biodiesel.
Other Feedstocks
Brown grease, soapstock, and other low cost, low quality (High
Water, High Free Fatty Acid (FFA) feedstocks can be made into
good Biodiesel. Current technology makes such production unattractive
financially.
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