Title: Technical note: An approximate examination of the effects of esterification on the EROEI of biodiesel fuels

Authors: J.C. Jones

Addresses: School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK

Abstract: Heat balance calculations on esterification of plant oil to make biodiesel are performed using recently published information from a laboratory reactor. It is concluded that such energy is relatively small and that attempts to improve the EROEI of biodiesels should not focus on the esterification process. [Received: January 8, 2009; Accepted: September 25, 2009]

Keywords: biodiesel; esterification; energy return on energy invested; EROEI; biofuels; heat balance; plant oil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2009.030683

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2009 Vol.2 No.4, pp.399 - 402

Published online: 30 Dec 2009 *

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