Course: BFM 202 Biodiesel Production

Lecture

Why Develop New Feedstocks?
Credits
BFM 202 Biodiesel Production Unit 4 Lecture has been adapted from "ENGY 131 Lesson 4 Alternate Biodiesel Feedstocks” by Southeastern Illinois College.

ENGY 131 Biodiesel Production course content by Southeastern Illinois College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Except where indicated otherwise.

Why Develop New Feedstocks?

Find low-cost feedstock choices

Less expensive feedstock can lead to higher production costs in the conversion to biodiesel. Global concerns regarding the environment also contribute to feedstock costs and choices. Click here for an article from Biodisiesel Magazine highlighting recent technologies.
Support government policy

Programs set up to favor one feedstock over another impacts feedstock choice. Early-on the U.S. favored refined soybean oil, but later modified that support to include animal fats and waste fats/oils.
Implement government mandates

International, domestic, and local governmental policies toward biofuels can stimulate or inhibit a feedstock choice. The Energy Dependence and Security Act of 2007 and its subsequent legislation have had a significant influence in the development of new feedstocks.
Food versus fuel debate

The controversy over the use of cereal grains for food instead of fuel has sparked many arguments and a great deal of research. In India, it is forbidden to produce biodiesel from human food sources, therefore considerable research and success has been made in the use of Jatropha curcas as a feedstock.