Feedstocks for biodiesel production: Brazilian and global perspectives

ABSTRACT

Soybean, rapeseed, and palm oil are the main raw materials for biodiesel production worldwide. However, there are other potential feedstocks for biodiesel production. Speculations swirl around the agreements signed at the 21st Conference of the Parties to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector and stimulate the biofuel blending. As an increase in the biodiesel demand is expected, Brazil can be an important player in the international market because of the availability of land and the diversity of raw materials. This paper discusses current global oil and biodiesel scenarios and reviews several potential feedstocks focusing on the prospects, limitations, food–fuel nexus, and opportunities to develop added-value products. Despite the variety of potential feedstocks, the biodiesel sector is likely to pursue its development based on large-scale economically competitive alternatives. Animal fat and waste frying oil are options for a short-term scenario. Palm oil is a promising choice for medium term, while algae and second generation routes may contribute to the biodiesel supply in the long term. Development of competitive chains, investment in technologies, processes and logistics, and domestication of species are essential to guarantee the inclusion of such feedstocks in the world biofuel mix.

KEYWORDS:

• Babassu palm
• macaw palm
• tallow
• castor
• Jatropha curcas

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Professor Dr Márcio Turra de Ávila for his valuable contribution on providing material to this review.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo under Grant number [2011/06917-8].