Biodiesel: Spent wash and By-Products

An ever increasing demand of fuels has been a challenge for today's scientific workers. The fossil fuel resources are dwindling day by day. Biodiesel seems to be a solution for future. Biodiesel is an environmentally viable fuel. Out of the four ways viz. direct use and blending, micro- emulsions, thermal cracking and transesterification, most commonly used method is transesterification of vegetable oils, fats, waste oils, etc. The purpose of the transesterification process is to lower the viscosity of the oil. Biodiesel fuel is a renewable substitute fuel for petroleum diesel or petro diesel fuel made from vegetable or animal fats; it can be used in any mixture with petro diesel fuel, as it has very similar characteristics, but it has lower exhaust emissions. it is renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Biodiesel seems to be a realistic fuel for future; it has become more attractive recently because of its environmental benefits. Biodiesel wash water which contains chemicals like alcohol, traces of Sulphuric acid, KOH/ NaOH. This effluent is called as Brine Solution. The biodiesel spent wash and by-products like glycerine has potential economic benefits which will reduce the treatment to given for such effluents coming out of biodiesel production plants. Keywords—Biodiesel, Transesterification, Brine solution, Potassium, Glycerine