Dr. M. Coley
Department of Chemistry
The University of the West Indies, Mona
 Biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel fuel
alternative that is comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long
chain fatty acids.
 Biodiesel can be used directly in diesel engines or may be
blended with petroleum diesel in various proportions
(e.g. 20% biodiesel: 80% petroleum diesel).
 Biodiesel is made from waste vegetable oil, plant oils (soya,
coconut, Jatropha, castor bean, etc.) or from algae sources.
Making fuel-grade biodiesel
Higher cetane number:
 fuel combust easier during compression
 engine runs more smoothly and quietly
 John Deere trucks can use B2, B5 and even B20 biodiesel blends in their engines.
 Most Caribbean states rely almost exclusively on imported
petroleum diesel to power heavy duty vehicles.
 A portion of this requirement can be supplied using
locally produced fuel-grade biodiesel.
 Locally produced biodiesel will:
 Reduce dependence on foreign oil
 Reduce foreign exchange spent on oil
 Reduce noxious vehicle emissions (SOx, VOC, PM, CO, CO2)
 Reduce vehicle maintenance frequency due to increased
engine lubricity
 Stimulate new industry based on recycling & waste re-use
 Heavy reliance on imported petroleum fuels
 Minimal fuel diversification - especially in SIDS
 Completely open to shocks in oil prices
 Poor waste oil disposal practices
 Failure to embrace technology to foster fuel
diversification
 Unrealized potential in fuel production despite
available technology
 Poor development of waste re-use policies
GOAL:
Establish research-driven, solutions-oriented unit that
designs workable programmes for implementing
industrial production of biodiesel in SIDS
Objectives:
 Survey quality and availability of waste cooking oil from
commercial food preparation services.
 Design ready-to-use processing unit from locally available
materials based on traditional trans-esterification methods.
 Introduce biodiesel manufacture based on use of sonication
technology and dry-wash in continuous flow processors.
 Develop business plans, training courses & produce training
materials on biodiesel production and testing.
 Partner with state agencies to implement sustainable use of
waste oil, plant oils & oil from algae in biodiesel production .
 Verifiable data on waste cooking oil as a biodiesel feedstock.
 Hands-on training in small-scale biodiesel production.
 Training materials, manuals, videos and technical consultations to
facilitate biodiesel manufacture.
 Business plans for setting-up biodiesel plants as stand-alone
businesses or as adjuncts to entities that generate WVO.
 Creation of resource centre to support biodiesel manufacture.
 Production of fuel-grade biodiesel, purified glycerol and glycerol
by-products.
 Develop design for an efficient, locally made small-scale biodiesel
plant that produce biodiesel which meets ASTM quality
requirements.
 Produce biodiesel from WVO, plant and algal oil for incorporation
into national diesel fuel mix.
 Use of biodiesel will replace a quantity of petroleum diesel
& save foreign exchange. In Jamaica, 5% biodiesel will
replace 5M gallons of petroleum diesel.
 Production of biodiesel will create employment, establish
small ventures & foster recycling of waste oil.
 Local biodiesel research will develop expertise & foster
cooperation with other Caribbean states & promote use of
renewable energy resources.
 Biodiesel use will reduce emission of greenhouse gases &
contribute to climate change mitigation.
 Consumers of biodiesel blends (e.g. B5), will encounter
reduced engine wear and vehicle maintenance costs.
 Commercial production of biodiesel from plant and algal
oil will significantly improve availability and foster
sustainability of the industry.
Academics
Government
Sustainable
Biodiesel
Production
Industry
Players
Citizens &
Environmentalists
 Use biodiesel manufacture as template for establishing a
waste re-use industrial sector - plastics, electronic waste,
tires, etc.
 Develop policy that govern waste disposal
 Integrate locally produced biodiesel as part of national
energy mix & stimulate thrust towards production from
plant & algal oils.
 Use biodiesel production as a teaching tool for sustainable
development. Involve university students & expose primary
& high school youths.
 Use biodiesel production as a means of implementing a
fully thought through and workable solution
simultaneously in several Caribbean states and collaborate
to share best practices.
Diesel fuel is a petroleum distillate
rich in Hydrocarbons and is produced
from distillation of crude oil
Renewable diesel is chemically
similar to petroleum diesel.
It refers to diesel fuels derived from
biomass but produced via a refinery
hydro-treating process
Biodiesel is a ‘diesel-like’
fuel made by reacting
vegetable oil or animal fat
with alcohols.