Biodiesel Questions?

Question

Write the general equation for the production of biodeisel from a fat or oil?

Find out the typical amount of carbon atoms present in the hydrocarbons molecules in diesel.

Suggest why biodiesel is more readily blended with diesel than is ethanol.

Answer 1

you can get the steps in biodiesel from google, acidification, transterification, nuetralization, decanting glycerines, water wash.

Diesel has between 7 and 15 carbons, 10 is about average.

ethanol has a low cetane number which means it wants to auto ignite during the compression stroke on a diesel engine, preignition will distroy an engine.  Physically, ethanol is polar and diesel in nonpolar.

Answer 2

Have a look.. it's one of my web pages.. shows how to make biodiesel

http://biodiesel.bazztravel.com/