Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils, used cooking oils, and animal fats by the production process called “trans-esterification” to convert those mixtures to the chemicals which have long chain mono alkyl esters or fatty acid methyl esters which can be used as “fuel” for vehicles. Approximately, 100 pounds of vegetable oil react with 10 pounds of alcohol (commonly methanol) in the presence of a catalyst, sodium hydroxide; later, 100 pounds of biodiesel and 10 pounds of glycerol (co-product) can be produced. For the glycerol which can be used for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Therefore, biodiesel can be considered as totally natural, alternative fuel source to be available for using in most of cases as similar as petrol or more specifically, “diesel distilled from petroleum”. Biodiesel is much safer than diesel from petroleum when biodiesel is escaped to the surrounding environment; moreover, it is much less inflammable as biodiesel’s flashpoint is 130°C as compared to petroleum diesel which is only 52°C. As a result, biodiesel is low-risk to be stored, kept, and delivered (U.S Department of Energy).
Trans-esterification reaction can be illustrated as following:
Triglyceride + Alcohol → Methyl esters (biodiesel) + Glycerol
(Vegetable oil) (Methanol) FIGURE 1.1 Typical trans-esterification reaction is carried out to produce Biodiesel (AOCS Lipid Library) Furthermore, biodiesel can be produced from the tobacco seed and soya bean which tobacco seed oil reduces the