A study on the main non-edible feedstocks for biodiesel production in Iran

The scarcity of conventional fossil fuels, growing emissions of combustion generated pollutants, and their increasing costs will make biomass sources more attractive. On the other hand, development of biomass energy is a way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels for both environmental and economic reasons. Among the different possible sources, biodiesel is gaining more attention all over the world. The main advantages of using biodiesel are its renewability and biodegradability. The wide range of available feedstocks for biodiesel production represents one of the most significant factors for producing biodiesel. Currently, more than 90% of biodiesel produced from conventionally grown edible plant oils such as rapeseed, soybean, sun flower and palm, but these edible feedstocks will not be sustainable enough for the increasing energy and food demand. Also Iran cannot afford to produce biodiesel from edible oil seeds as it is done in the American and European countries. Therefore, there is a need for renewable non-food sources. This paper aims the engineers, industrialists and researchers to provide information on the main non-edible oil resources which are available in Iran.

Keywords:

biodiesel , feedstock , non-edible source , Iran