Speaker Abstract
The Good and the Dark Side of Biodiesel
Joseph M. Perez and Wallace A. Lloyd
Tribology Group, Chemical Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
The surge to produce alternative fuels to reduce petroleum has resulted in the rapid growth of
biodiesel facilities in the U.S., both as large plants and small “home brew” production
units. Penn State has been a leader in researching the use of vegetable oils both as fuels and
lubricants for over 10 years. A field study using both biodiesel and biodegradable hydraulic fluids
has been in progress for over four years. The transesterification process to produce biodiesel
is an old established process that is easy to use. Chemically, a triglyceride is converted to fatty
acid esters by simply heating the triglyceride in the presence of an alcohol and a catalyst. The
reaction results in biodiesel and a by-product, glycerol. The biodiesel produced is a clean burning
fuel that can be used to replace No. 2 petroleum diesel fuel. The good side of using biodiesel
has been well documented. The advantages include: a renewable resource, reduction of petroleum
imports, an improved cash-value product that helps the farmers, and no modification required for
use in diesel engines. On the dark side, as we make progress issues have arisen in addition to
the known disadvantages of oxidative stability and low temperature characteristics of the fuel.
A number of the new dark side issues that have arisen with the growth of this new industry are
technical while others are economical and socio-political. Several of these to be discussed include
those involving safety, economics and food versus fuel issues. A possible show stopper is the question
of consistent quality product.
