Biotechnological Advances in Biodiesel Production for Cleaner Combustion and Reduced Environmental Impact”

Abstract

Heavy dependence on petroleum diesel in almost all parts of the world results in serious environmental and health problems, including enhanced emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, contributing to declining air quality and compromising human health. There is, therefore, an increasing demand to find sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional diesel. Among various alternative fuels, biodiesel manifests enough promise due to its renewable raw material source and positive environmental impact. This research paper discusses biodiesel from the perspective of physical and chemical properties, combustion dynamics, emissions, and environmental impact. Besides discussing renewable sources of raw materials for biodiesel production, such as vegetable oils, used oils, microalgae, and fatty microorganisms, and identifying the technical and biological barriers associated with its use and production, it gives practical recommendations and supportive policies for its adoption as a sustainable alternative fuel. The production of biodiesel from diverse biological sources and its biochemical conversion processes, such as enzymatic reactions, microbial fermentation, and bioprocessing of plant materials, along with the physical and chemical properties of biodiesel and their impact on combustion and engine efficiency, and the evaluation of exhaust emissions using advanced spectroscopic methods such as FTIR and UV-Vis, and life cycle analysis (LCA) to determine the fuel's environmental impact, with a comparison of performance and emissions between biodiesel and conventional diesel.