Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8.4 WORLD SCENARIO ON PRODUCTION
AND APPLICATION OF BIODIESEL
Biodiesel is now produced in several countries worldwide. The various feedstocks used
in the synthesis of biodiesel range from edible to nonedible oils and fats. As per an
estimate, Malaysia tops the world in the level of production potential of biodiesel, fol-
lowed by Indonesia, Argentina, the United States, Brazil, The Netherlands, Germany,
Philippines, Belgium, and Spain. The feedstock diverted for the production of biodiesel
in these countries is mostly edible oil (28% soybean oil, 22% palm oil, 11% coconut
oil, and 5% comprising rapeseed, sunflower, and olive oils). The remaining 20% con-
stitutes animal fats (Sharma and Singh, 2009). However, the developing nations are net
importers of edible oil and cannot divert the edible oil for biodiesel production; thus,
significant emphasis is placed on alternative feedstocks. Waste cooking and frying oil,
waste fat or oil obtained from animal and fish, and microalgal oil have emerged as
potential biodiesel feedstocks. Microalgal oil from some species has shown immense
potential to produce oil if provided with optimum conditions. The total amount of bio-
diesel produced worldwide was 16,000 ktonnes in 2009 (Santacesaria et al., 2012). The
country that leads in biodiesel production is Germany, followed by France, the United
States, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Belgium, Poland, The Netherlands,
Austria, China, Columbia, and South Korea. The biodiesel produced in other countries
amounts to 17% of the total production worldwide (http://www.biofuels-platform.ch/
en/infos/production.php?id = biodiesel). Biodiesel production from some of the leading
countries is listed in Table 8.2. At present, biodiesel is mostly used as transport fuel in
TABLE 8.2
Biodiesel Produced by Leading Countries in 2009
Biodiesel Production
(in MI)
Country
Percentage (%)
Germany
2,859
16
France
2,206
12
United States
2,060
11
Brazil
1,535
9
Argentina
1,340
7
Spain
967
5
Italy
830
5
Thailand
610
3
Belgium
468
3
Poland
374
2
Netherlands
364
2
Austria
349
2
China
338
2
Colombia
330
2
South Korea
300
2
Other countries
2,998
17
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