Raw materials and utilities cost
Biodiesel is the product obtained when a vegetable oil or an
animal fat reacts chemically with an alcohol to produce fatty acid
alkyl esters. A catalyst such as sodium or potassium hydroxide is
required. Glycerol is produced as a co-product (Van Gerpen et al.,
2004). The most common stoichiometries description of the reaction
is:
1000 kg of oil þ 110 kg of methanol/1000 kg of biodiesel
þ 110 kg of glycerol