BIODIESEL FROM NATURAL RESOURCES: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF FEEDSTOCK PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Biodiesel is a non-toxic and renewable source based on, mainly, petroleum-derived products which are often produced from domestic natural sources like soybean, rapeseed, and coconuts, and also derived from cooking oils that are recycled for natural use. Vegetable oils gave the idea of substituting fuels for diesel engines. But due to their characteristics of low cold flow, low volatilities, and increasing viscosity, this led to the research of different derivatives. Transesterification is a process in which the monoalkyl esters of vegetable oils and fats, mostly called biodiesels, are used to gain energy for fuel. Biofuels are fuels derived from organic materials such as plants, algae, or farm waste. They offer an attractive alternative to fossil fuels by providing a renewable and high-power source of energy. Jatropha, Jojoba, Soyabean, etc., are used as the raw materials for the generation of biofuels from 1^st generation biofuels. Alcohols, Dimethyl Furan are also used in generating biofuels as 2^nd generation biofuels. Some types of engines are also used for producing biofuels for natural use. Chemically, the oil/fats consist of 90-98% triglycerides and small amounts of mono and diglycerides. Thus, these biofuels will help us to provide energy in high amounts by using feedstocks as renewable sources of energy. This will help us to build a suitable structure of energy production by replacing fossil fuels in the future.