ARS | Publication request: ARS Biodiesel Research Initiatives

Submitted to: UJNR Food & Agricultural Panel Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 2006
Publication Date: October 21, 2006
Citation: Foglia, T.A., Ashby, R.D., Dunn, R.O., Erhan, S.Z., Haas, M.J., Holser, R.A., Knothe, G.H., Marmer, W.N., Moser, B.R., Wyatt, V.T. 2006. ARS Biodiesel Research Initiatives. Proceedings of the United States - Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources Food & Agricultural Panel. p. HT5-HT11.

Technical Abstract: Biodiesel activities within ARS are concerned with the production, quality, and properties of this alternative fuel from agriculturally derived fats and oils. Currently, in the absence of tax incentives, biodiesel production when using refined fats and oils and conventional alkali transesterification technology is not cost-competitive with petroleum diesel. Accordingly, research is aimed at lowering this economic barrier by developing alternative routes to biodiesel production and by using less expensive agriculturally derived feedstocks, such as rendered fats, greases, and soapstocks. Other important research areas address the quality of biodiesel, such as residual glycerol and sulfur in the fuel; reducing harmful emissions of the fuel; its cold weather performance; its lubricity properties; the storage stability of the fuel; and the utilization of the glycerol coproduct.