Non-edible Oils for Biodiesel Production: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Vegetable feedstocks are normally the main source for biodiesel production, but there are a number of economic, ethic, and environmental concerns regarding their use. This chapter reviews and examines the main non-edible oils: cottonseed oil, Crambe abyssinica, croton oil, desert date, jatropha oil, jojoba oil, karanja oil, kemiri sunan oil, linseed oil, mahua oil, moringa oil, neem oil, polanga oil, rubber seed oil, sal oil, sea mango, soap nut oil, stillingia oil, taramira oil, and tobacco seed oil. Following this, the fatty acids composition of non-edible oils is reported and the properties of the relevant biodiesel critically discussed. A brief summary of the main oil extraction methods and reaction conditions for producing biodiesel is reported. Criticisms related to the use of these feedstocks and future alternatives are then reported and discussed. The full exploitation of waste to produce biodiesel could represent a strategic way to substitute fossil feedstock with renewable forms.