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Scientists Purify Biodiesel Made From Vegetable Oils

Date:
August 6, 2007
Source:
University of Leicester
Summary:
Chemists have developed a way of purifying biodiesel made from vegetable oils, which is cheap, simple and low in toxicity. Researchers were able to remove glycerol, the main by-product of vegetable oil-based biodiesel, using ionic liquids made in part by vitamin B4 (choline chloride).
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A group of Chemists from the University of Leicester have developed a way of purifying biodiesel made from vegetable oils, which is cheap, simple and low in toxicity.

The team, led by Professor Andrew Abbott is able to remove glycerol, the main by-product of vegetable oil-based biodiesel, using ionic liquids made in part by vitamin B4 (choline chloride).

If left in biodiesel, glycerol (a syrupy sugar alcohol) would damage engines but this technique simply washes it out of the fuel. The ionic liquid developed by Professor Abbott uses a complex of choline chloride with glycerol to extract more glycerol out of the biodiesel.

The Leicester process is greener than traditional processes and effectively provides a sustainable methodology for the purification of biodiesel without the production of significant waste.

Professor Abbott commented: “We hope that further research will optimise the ionic liquid recycling and recovery of the glycerol. We are hoping to collaborate with a biodiesel producer to test this technology further.”


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Materials provided by University of Leicester. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

University of Leicester. "Scientists Purify Biodiesel Made From Vegetable Oils." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 August 2007. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070805130655.htm>.
University of Leicester. (2007, August 6). Scientists Purify Biodiesel Made From Vegetable Oils. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070805130655.htm
University of Leicester. "Scientists Purify Biodiesel Made From Vegetable Oils." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070805130655.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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