Researchers from UC Santa Cruz have uncovered a new process to produce biodiesel from waste oil using sodium tetramethoxyborate. This innovative approach simplifies production, reduces energy usage and could make biodiesel a more viable alternative for the transportation sector.
Chemists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have introduced a revolutionary method for producing biodiesel from waste oil, which could streamline production and lower energy consumption. This breakthrough has the potential to make biodiesel a more attractive option for major industrial sectors reliant on diesel.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2022, the U.S. transportation sector consumed approximately 3 million barrels of diesel daily, accounting for 10% of the nation’s total energy-related CO2 emissions.
Despite efforts to shift towards electric vehicles, the heavy reliance on diesel continues, particularly for fleets operating trucks, trains and boats.
Simplified Production Process
The study, published in the American Chemical Society journal Energy & Fuels, introduces sodium tetramethoxyborate (NaB(OMe)4) as a key reagent.
This compound enables biodiesel to be separated simply by pouring off the byproducts. It also allows for the regeneration of the most expensive ingredient in the production process, thus making the method both cost-effective and energy-efficient.
“I always wanted to work on biodiesel,” lead author Kevin Lofgren, a doctoral student in chemistry, said in a news release. “I started exploring this new material that we made to see if it could attack the fats in oil to help catalyze biodiesel, and it all flowed from there.”
Environmental Benefits
Current biodiesel production methods often entail high energy consumption and produce side products like soap, complicating purification. Some methods even require palm oil, leading to detrimental environmental impacts such as deforestation.
In contrast, the UC Santa Cruz process operates at a much lower temperature — around 40°C (104°F) — which is below the boiling point of water, significantly lowering energy requirements.
“To make energy takes a lot of energy. Our method uses waste oil and mild heating, compared to current petroleum refineries that are energy-consuming and pollution-causing,” co-author Scott Oliver, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said in the news release.
Industrial and Environmental Significance
The new method converts about 85% of used vegetable oil into biodiesel and meets nearly all industry standards for fuel in heavy machinery and transportation vehicles, barring a slight discrepancy in water content. This issue is expected to be rectified with process scale-up.
“This new method is special because it is simple and affordable. It has the bonus of being able to regenerate the starting material,” added Lofgren. “It’s already low-cost enough to make it competitive. But if you can buy the most expensive ingredient once and then regenerate it, it would be more cost-efficient in the long run.”
“Everybody needs energy — every farm, food production plant and transportation vehicle depend on it,” Oliver added. “This could really impact people. This process can be done at just above room temperature and it’s reusable. You don’t need to have a refinery; you can potentially use this method on a farm.”
Future Prospects
With the advent of this innovative method, the future of biodiesel production looks promising, aligning with global sustainability goals and offering a viable alternative to conventional diesel fuels. This advancement not only reduces carbon emissions but also leverages waste products, setting a new standard for energy production in an environmentally conscious world.