Biodiesel from Groundnut Oil an Alternative Fuel for Diesel Engine - A Review

Energy is considered as one of the most important factors for economic and industrial growth. Due to the depleting problem of fossil fuels there is a huge demand for an alternative and research & studies promoted the emergence of biofuels among which biodiesel is considered to be the most accepted and best alternative for the depleting energy resources. Biodiesel has become a key source as a substitution fuel and is making its place as a key future renewable energy source. As an alternative fuel for diesel engines, it is becoming increasingly important due to diminishing petroleum reserves and the environmental consequences of exhaust gases from petroleum-fuelled engines. To minimize the biofuel cost, in recent day’s waste cooking oil was used as feedstock. The used cooking oils are used as raw material, adaption of continuous transesterification process and recovery of high quality glycerol from biodiesel by-product (glycerol) are primary options to be considered to lower the cost of biodiesel. There are four primary ways to make biodiesel, direct use and blending, micro-emulsions, thermal cracking (pyrolysis) and transesterification.