| Products >> Biodiesel > Introduction |
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| PALM BIODIESEL FAQ | |
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What is Biodiesel? Biodiesel refers to methyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils. What is Palm Biodiesel? Palm Biodiesel is an alternative fuel derived from palm oil and can be used in compression ignition engines i.e. diesel engines without any modifications. It refers to methyl esters derived from palm oil through a process known as ‘transesterification’. Can Palm Biodiesel be used directly in diesel engines? Neat Palm Biodiesel (B100) can be used as fuel in diesel engine without any engine modification. It can also be blended in any proportions with petroleum diesel. Palm Biodiesel is simple to use. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, safe to handle (flash point higher than petroleum diesel) and essentially free of sulphur. Is the emission cleaner from diesel engines running on Palm Biodiesel? The answer is Yes. Various studies indicated that carbon dioxide emissions, total particulate matter, and carbon monoxide emissions are reduced with Palm Biodiesel. Nitrogen oxides seem to increase slightly but still within the acceptable limit. However, because Palm Biodiesel does not contain sulphur, catalytic technology is more effective at countering nitrogen oxide emissions. Furthermore, Palm Biodiesel degrades quickly in the environment, and is non-toxic. |
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How do you ensure the quality of Palm Biodiesel produced in Malaysia? The quality of Palm Biodiesel will be that of European Standard for Biodiesel (EN14214). Palm Biodiesel has an inherent pour point property of +15ºC. How can it be exported to other parts of the world with cold climate? Palm Biodiesel with low pour point that is suitable as diesel substitute in temperate countries have been successfully produced by MPOB. The normal palm biodiesel with pour point of 15ºC can only be used in tropical countries while the low pour point palm biodiesel (-21ºC to 0ºC) can be used in temperate countries to meet the seasonal pour point requirements (summer grade, 0ºC; spring and autumn grade, -10ºC; and winter grade, -20ºC). Can Palm Oil compete with other vegetable oils as feedstock for biodiesel? One of the important criteria for any vegetable oil to be used as biodiesel is availability at competitive price. Palm oil meets this criterion perfectly. It is already common knowledge within the world of oils and fats that development of the oil palm industry in Malaysia has been remarkable. Malaysia takes pride of the fact that within a relatively short period of time, we have become the world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil products in the international oils and fats market. Furthermore, the advantage which palm oil holds over other oils and fats lies in its productivity, yield and efficiency factors. Oil palm is the most productive oil bearing plant species known. The yield of palm oil per unit area is 5 and 10 times higher than rapeseed and soybean oil, respectively. Considering the comparative yields of various oil-bearing crops, oil palm is clearly the most efficiently produced oil in the world today. When the world is looking at vegetable oil as renewable fuel, palm oil will undoubtedly stand out among other vegetable oils. This yield factor alone is adequate for the world to decide which vegetable oil should be produced to meet the expanding requirements for “Greener and Cleaner Energy” for its growing population. How much work has been done in Malaysia on Biodiesel? MPOB has evaluated using palm biodiesel as diesel fuel since 1984. MPOB has conducted extensive research and development in using palm biodiesel diesel substitute. They have been used in pure form or blended with petroleum diesel or fuel oil in diesel engines and industrial burners. The results are very promising. Currently, palm biodiesel is being used in Europe. One company in Germany is using palm biodiesel as fuel in commercial trains and positive feedback has been received. What’s Mercedes-Benz AG view about Palm Biodiesel? One of the most exhaustive field trials on the use of palm biodiesel as diesel fuel was conducted by Mercedes-Benz in collaboration with PORIM and Cycle & Carriage. A fleet of 30 Mercedes-Benz buses with OR 1313 chassis and OM 352 engines were used for the trial. The buses covered mileages of up to 300,000 to 350,000 km each. The trial was conducted from June 1990 to July 1995. Followings were Mercedes-Benz’s conclusions: “The test showed that OF 1313 buses with OM 352 engines which have been actually designed for operation diesel fuel can just as well be operated with palm biodiesel or a blend of palm biodiesel and petroleum diesel. This applies both to the engine performance and long-term operation. The result of the engine performance for the OM 352 engines can be translated to other direct-injection engines”. |
