Journal of Energy Bioscience 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 72-84 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 72 Research Perspective Open Access Application and Development Prospects of Rapeseed Oil in Biodiesel Production Wei Zhou Biotechnology Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, China Corresponding email: wei.zhou@cuixi.org Journal of Energy Bioscience, 2024, Vol.15, No.2 doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0008 Received: 22 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 27 Feb., 2024 Published: 08 Mar., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhou, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhou W., 2024, Application and development prospects of rapeseed oil in biodiesel production, Journal of Energy Bioscience, 15(2): 72-84 (doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0008) Abstract With the increasing demand for renewable energy, rapeseed oil has become a preferred raw material for biodiesel production due to its abundant resources, good biodegradability, and excellent combustion performance. This study analyzes the compositional characteristics of rapeseed oil and its comparative advantages over other biodiesel feedstocks, detailing its production process, technological advancements, and economic feasibility. Additionally, the study evaluates the environmental benefits of rapeseed oil biodiesel and its impact on greenhouse gas emissions from an environmental and sustainability perspective. Through case studies, the global success of rapeseed oil biodiesel applications is summarized, and the future opportunities and challenges in technological innovation, yield improvement, and commercial expansion are anticipated. This study proposes agricultural practices to increase yield and oil content, integration with other renewable energies, and government policy support, providing a comprehensive analysis of the current state and development prospects of rapeseed oil in biodiesel production. It offers valuable reference and insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. Keywords Rapeseed oil; Biodiesel; Production process; Economic analysis; Sustainable development 1 Introduction Biodiesel production has garnered significant attention as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, and promote rural economic development. Biodiesel, a renewable energy source, is produced through the transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats with alcohol, resulting in fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and glycerol. This process not only provides a cleaner-burning fuel but also helps in mitigating the environmental impacts associated with conventional diesel fuel (Jeong et al., 2004; González-García et al., 2012; Herrmann et al., 2013). The production of biodiesel is a critical component in the global effort to transition towards renewable energy sources. Biodiesel can be produced from various feedstocks, including vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste cooking oils. The transesterification process, typically catalyzed by alkali, acid, or enzymes, converts these feedstocks into biodiesel and glycerol. This process is advantageous due to its relatively simple technology and the high yield of biodiesel it produces (Jeong et al., 2004). The European Union has set ambitious targets for renewable energy in transport, mandating that at least 10% of energy consumption in transport should come from renewable sources by 2020, highlighting the importance of biodiesel in achieving these goals (Herrmann et al., 2013). Rapeseed oil is one of the most prominent feedstocks for biodiesel production, particularly in Europe. It is favored due to its high oil content and favorable fatty acid composition, which results in biodiesel with excellent cold flow properties and oxidative stability (González-García et al., 2012; Lovasz et al., 2023). The production of biodiesel from rapeseed oil involves several steps, including the extraction of oil from rapeseed, followed by transesterification with alcohols such as methanol or ethanol. Various studies have demonstrated the efficiency of rapeseed oil in biodiesel production, with high conversion rates and favorable environmental profiles (Raman et al., 2019; Santaraite et al., 2020). The environmental benefits of using rapeseed oil for biodiesel are significant. Life cycle assessments (LCA) have shown that biodiesel from rapeseed oil can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to
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