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This post was last edited by qinweijun on 2012-3-28 at 16:59. Summary: Biodiesel is an emerging industry that has arisen as society has developed to its current stage, and it has generated considerable attention both domestically and internationally. This article provides an overview of the background behind the development of this industry, and briefly introduces the main characteristics of biodiesel as well as the status of its industrialization in various countries. A review is provided on the policy trends regarding the biodiesel industry in our country, as well as the progress in technological research and development. Keywords: biodiesel, industrialization, clean fuel 1 Introduction Due to the increasing depletion of petroleum resources and the environmental impact of the use of petrochemical fuels, humanity is constantly seeking a new, clean, safe, reliable, and sustainable energy source. Biodiesel possesses properties that petrochemical diesel cannot match, and it is referred to in the industry as a \"sun fuel\"; as a result, many institutions both domestically and internationally are increasing their efforts in its research and development. Biodiesel is a biofuel obtained through chemical methods using plant oils (such as rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, and palm oil) as raw materials. It can be used alone as a substitute for diesel, or mixed with petrochemical diesel in a certain proportion (2%-30%). The idea of producing biodiesel emerged at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. When Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the engine, created it in 1895, he had no intention of using oil as fuel; the engine that was displayed for the first time at the Paris Exposition in 1900 used peanut oil as fuel. Systematic research on biodiesel began in the early 1960s, and it saw significant development only after the two oil crises in the 1970s. The main advantages of producing and using biodiesel are: ① It can be used in cars or ships equipped with any diesel engine; it has an appropriate viscosity, higher volatility, good starting performance, smooth operation, favorable combustion, less carbon buildup, and high thermal efficiency. ②Because biodiesel contains oxidized compounds and has a cetane number of over 45, its efficiency is slightly higher than that of petrochemical diesel under high engine loads. ③Biodiesel has excellent lubricating properties, which can reduce friction between the injector and the fuel pump, resulting in less wear on engine components compared to petrochemical diesel. Heat and smoke emissions are reduced, there are no unpleasant odors, and some performance indicators are better than those of petrochemical diesel. ④The flash point of biodiesel is higher than that of conventional diesel. It is highly safe for use, transportation, and storage. ⑤Among various alternative fuels, only biodiesel meets all the health testing requirements set by the U.S. Clean Air Act. Tests show that the emission of exhaust particles is extremely low, and the use of biodiesel can reduce air toxicity by 80%. ⑥Biodiesel is non-toxic and has no adverse effects on humans or animals; its sulfur content is less than 0.01%, and it can significantly reduce the unpleasant odor of exhaust gases when used. Biodiesel does not harm fish and has no effect on microorganisms. In aqueous solution, the degradation rate after 28 days is 95%, whereas that of petrochemical diesel is only 26%. 2 Commercial application of biodiesel abroad: In the 1990s, biodiesel, as a focus of research and development in the field of new energy sources, attracted significant attention from developed countries around the world, especially those with limited resources. Its main features are as follows: The U.S. Department of Energy regards the development of biodiesel as a matter of strategic importance; the country’s energy strategy for the 21st century is defined as \"safe, clean, and efficient.\" Due to the excellent properties of biodiesel, OFD (Office of Fossil Fuel Development) has included biodiesel as one of the key objectives in its Renewable Energy Development Strategy. Policy and regulatory requirements mandate that a certain percentage of vehicles in the federal, state, and public sectors use alternative fuels. In the United States, biodiesel has become the fastest-growing alternative fuel, with the federal government being the largest consumer of it. The U.S. Energy Department requires that by 2010, biodiesel production be increased from the current level of 1 Mt to 12 Mt. Currently, there are more than a dozen **regions in the world where biodiesel is produced and sold. In addition to the United States, the producing countries include European member states, Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, Yugoslavia, India, Japan, and others. The EU's goal for promoting biodiesel is to reach 830 t by 2010. Germany currently has 8 biodiesel production plants and over 300 biodiesel filling stations; it produces 0.25 Mt of biodiesel per year. The DIN E51606 standard for biodiesel has been established, and no taxes are imposed on biodiesel. France has 7 biodiesel production plants with a total capacity of 0.40 Mt/year; the standard is to mix 5% biodiesel into regular diesel, and there is no tax on biodiesel. Austria has 3 biodiesel production plants with a total capacity of 0.055 Mt/a, and the tax rate is 4.60% compared to that of petrochemical diesel. Belgium has 2 biodiesel production plants with a total capacity of 0.24 Mt/a. Japan’s biodiesel production capacity has also reached 0.40 Mt/a. In recent years, the rapid development of the biodiesel industry abroad, particularly in the EU, has been driven significantly by two factors. The first is the set-aside policy introduced in 1992 as part of the policy reforms aimed at addressing agricultural surpluses in Europe. It provided substantial subsidies for non-physical production, thereby stimulating the use of reserved land for non-agricultural purposes. If these reserved lands are planted with raw materials for biodiesel, the subsidies for those lands will be the highest. Secondly, the high fuel taxes in Europe typically account for 50% or even more of the retail price of diesel fuel. However, in February 1994, under strong **pressure, the European Parliament decided to exempt biodiesel from 90% of taxes, providing legislative support for the use of alternative fuels. The incentives associated with differential taxation and subsidies for rapeseed cultivation together helped make the price of some European **biodiesel competitive with that of other diesel fuels. 3 Business opportunities and risks in the development of biodiesel. Countries around the world are vigorously developing the biodiesel industry in response to the current energy situation and the needs of industrial development. Our country is no exception. 3.1 Domestic policies for the development of biodiesel At present, the biodiesel industry receives significant support from departments such as the State Council, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Commission of Trade and Economics, and the National Development and Reform Commission, and it has been included in relevant **plans. ①863 Program: Project number 2003AA2146061, \"Research on Key Technologies and Strategies for Biodiesel.\" 973 Program: Project number 2003CB716000, \"Fundamental Research on Key Issues in Biocatalysis and Biotransformation.\" ②The document issued by the General Office of the **Development and Reform Commission, titled \"Fa Gai Ban Gao Ji 1225\", for the year 2005, specifies in the section on provincial high-tech projects related to \"key technologies for saving and replacing petroleum\" that the key technologies involve industrial-scale biodiesel production as well as methods for producing biodiesel from oil-based waste materials and wild plants. Expected goal: To develop a scalable production process for biodiesel, with a monoesterification conversion rate of over 95%. ③**The announcement jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce, titled “Guidelines on Key Areas for the Prioritized Development of High-Tech Industrialization at Present,” also includes biomass liquid fuel technology among the projects related to new and renewable energy. ④New Technologies for Vegetable Oils and Fat Processing – Medium- to Long-Term Development Plan for 2020: It also includes “Research and development of renewable energy – biodiesel” in the list of key areas for research and development in the fat industry. ⑤In order to effectively address the shortage of petroleum energy in China, Academician Xu Kuangdi of the Party Leadership Group of the Chinese Academy of Engineering submitted on July 8, 2001, the minutes of the »Symposium on the Development of China’s Biodiesel Industry«, which he had presided over on May 22, 2001, to Prime Minister Zhu Rongji. Premier Zhu attached great importance to this and asked Li Lanqing, Wu Bangguo, and the **Vice Premiers to give their instructions. On July 11, 2001, Vice Premier Wu Bangguo issued instructions stating: “It is recommended that departments such as the Planning Commission and the Economic and Trade Commission provide appropriate support based on the results of the investigation.” Some senior industry experts from China, including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering such as Xu Kuangdi, Shi Yuanchun, Min Enze, Shen Yungang, and Fan Weitang, have put forward many constructive suggestions for the development of China’s biodiesel industry, and these suggestions are being implemented step by step through coordinated efforts in various areas. Such as Reply No. 39 issued by the State Taxation Administration regarding Sichuan Provincial State Taxation Bureau’s request for guidance on matters related to the imposition of consumption tax on biodiesel, and so on. ⑦To promote the development of the biodiesel industry in China, the Chinese Academy of Engineering organized a seminar on the development of plant feedstocks for biodiesel on January 17, 2003. Undoubtedly, this conference has played a positive role in advancing the issue of biodiesel feedstock sources, which is of widespread concern in the industry. ⑧It is reported that the 14th meeting of the 10th REN Congress passed the Renewable Energy Law on February 28, 2005, and the President signed Decree No. 33 to promulgate this law. This is the first legislation on renewable energy in our country, and there is undoubtedly an immeasurably positive impact on promoting and developing renewable energy through such legislation. ⑨**The \"Catalogue on Comprehensive Utilization of Resources (Revised in 2003)\) issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the **State Taxation Administration provides a preferential policy allowing exemption from corporate income tax for 5 years for the production of biodiesel from used cooking oil. 3.2 Progress in biodiesel technology research and development: China is slightly behind developed countries in the development of biodiesel, but it is currently advancing at a rapid pace. In China, various institutions such as Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Northeast Forestry University, East China University of Science and Technology, China University of Petroleum, and University of Science and Technology Beijing have engaged in research and development in the field of biodiesel technology, achieving many results in this area. It is reported that the methods currently in use, including those that have been put into industrial application as well as those still under research, include chemical synthesis, enzyme-based methods, engineered microalgae approaches, and supercritical reaction methods. The latter three methods are significantly superior to the chemical synthesis method in terms of efficiency and production cost. Furthermore, to the author’s knowledge, the bioenzyme method has entered the pilot-scale stage. For example, the achievement of Tsinghua University regarding a new process for producing biodiesel from renewable oil feedstocks using biological enzyme methods has led to the establishment of a pilot-scale production line in Yiyang, Hunan ； The Department of Biochemical Engineering at Beijing University of Chemical Technology approaches the issue from the perspective of an integrated energy-resource-environment system. Using inexpensive and renewable plant and animal oils such as rapeseed crude oil, rice bran oil, and fried oil waste, as well as low-carbon alcohols like ethanol produced through crop fermentation, it produces environment-friendly biodiesel through bioenzyme transesterification or esterification. The conversion efficiency of this process exceeds 95%, and a pilot production line with a capacity of 100 tons using enzyme-based methods has also been established. In terms of the industrialization of biodiesel, Hainan Zhenghe Bioenergy Company, Sichuan Biooil Chemical Industry Company, and Fujian Zhuoyue New Energy Development Company have all developed technologies with independent intellectual property rights, and have successively built production facilities with capacities exceeding 10,000 tons. Plans to build biodiesel production facilities have also been reported in Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and other regions. It is understood that the enterprises involved in the biodiesel industry in our country currently use mainly food waste oil, oil extraction residues, and oils from forest fruits as raw materials, with the cost of these raw materials accounting for over 70% of the total cost. Therefore, the source and price of raw materials constitute the primary considerations in developing biodiesel. It is reported that China consumes approximately 12 Mt of vegetable oil each year, generating about 4 Mt of waste cooking oil. Moreover, China is rich in plant resources for energy purposes, including those from the Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Apocynaceae, and Leguminosae families. However, all such raw materials are scattered and have not formed industries; as a result, there is a contradiction between the fragmented production of raw materials and the scale requirements of industrial production. Regarding the recycling and treatment of waste cooking oil, gutter oil, etc., industry experts suggest that it should be made industrialized and market-oriented, and brought under standardized management. Energy crops, which before were left to grow on their own, have also been included in the research and cultivation programs of relevant departments. From 1999 to 2002, the Key Laboratory of the Hunan Forestry Science Academy took the lead in carrying out a project funded by the Forestry Bureau titled \"Introduction of the energy tree species Jatropha and its utilization technologies\", during which excellent clonal strains of this energy tree species were introduced from South Africa, the United States, and Brazil ； The study resulted in the development of equipment for extracting the sap from the green jade tree, and research was conducted on the composition of this sap as well as its fuel properties ； Phase-specific results have been achieved in the research on the catalytic pyrolysis of malachite tree latex. In addition, energy plant raw material bases were established in Jianghua, Guiyang, and Longshan counties in Hunan Province, as well as in Nanning City in Guangxi Province, as part of the **afforestation project to convert farmland back into forests**. New rapid cultivation techniques suitable for different types of energy plants were also developed. The jatropha plant, which has a high oil yield and is abundant in China’s southwestern region, has currently been planted over 100,000 mu, with plans to expand this area to 10 million mu by 2010. Additionally, the research on the polyploid breeding of the salt-tolerant economic plant Abutilon maritimum for biodiesel production, led by the Institute of Biotechnology at Nanjing University, has made breakthroughs and has been included in the **\"863 Program\" projects. 3.3 Biodiesel Market Analysis The development of the automotive industry indicates that the use of diesel in vehicles is a trend in the growth of this industry. The accelerating trend toward dieselization of vehicles is mainly attributed to technological advancements in diesel engines. According to experts’ forecasts, before 2010, diesel demand will grow at an annual rate of 3.30%, with global diesel demand rising from the current 38% to 45%. The global supply of diesel is severely insufficient, leaving ample room for the development of biodiesel. The issue of supply and demand balance for diesel is also a key focus for the development of China’s oil market in the coming years. Industry experts suggest that in 2005, as crude oil processing volume increased, there would be some room for exports of gasoline and kerosene, while the supply gap for diesel would remain significant. China’s diesel production is expected to reach 80.50 Mt by 2005, with a shortfall of still 0.60–2.40 Mt. Diesel demand is projected to exceed 100 Mt by 2010, representing a 24% increase compared to 2005. In recent years, despite continuous technological upgrades in refineries and an increasing diesel-to-gasoline ratio, they have still been unable to meet market demand. Currently, the diesel-to-gasoline ratio in refineries is around 1.80, while market demand requires a ratio of over 2.00; in regions such as Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guizhou, the demanded diesel-to-gasoline ratio is even above 2.50. With the rapid development of the national economy, the supply-demand imbalance in the diesel-to-wood fuel ratio will become increasingly prominent. Therefore, the development of biodiesel is in line with the petrochemical industry’s efforts to adjust the oil product mix and increase the ratio of diesel to gasoline, offering broad market prospects. 4 Conclusion China’s 10th Five-Year Development Plan has explicitly called for the development of various petroleum alternatives, and identified the development of bio-liquid fuels as a direction for the growth of emerging industries. Experts believe that the development of the biodiesel industry in our country over the next decade can be divided into three stages: in the short term, existing various types of waste oils and oil-containing biological resources will be used as raw materials. By rough estimation, if one-third of China’s existing raw material resources (excluding expired soybean inventory) could be utilized, the industry scale could reach 2 Mt. During this phase, due to the scattered sources of raw materials, small and medium-sized plants with an annual production capacity of less than 0.10 Mt should be established to reduce transportation costs. Given the small scale of production and large number of units at this stage, there are certain operational risks, so private and foreign-funded enterprises should play a leading role. At the same time, agricultural and forestry crops used as raw materials should be planted on a large scale to prepare for the next stage of development. It is also necessary to continuously improve technologies, enhance quality, and reduce costs. In the intermediate stage, large-scale cultivated agricultural and forestry crops should be used as raw materials. China currently has 900 million mu of forested land; if 5% of this area, or about 50 million mu, is used for planting oil-bearing trees, and each mu yields 40 kg of biodiesel, the production volume could reach 2 Mt ； China has 1.9 billion mu of arable land; if 1%, or about 20 million mu, is used to grow crops with high oil yields, and each mu can produce 50 kg of biodiesel, then the production volume would be 10 Mt. Taking all factors into account, even on a conservative estimate, the production scale is in the range of several million tons. At this stage, a combined model involving manufacturing enterprises and raw material growers should be adopted, and large-scale factories with an annual production capacity of over 0.10 Mt can be established. At the same time, accelerate the research and development as well as industrialization of high-oil-yield raw material crops. In the long term, high-yield oil-producing raw material crops grown on a large scale should be used as the raw materials. The United States has utilized modern biotechnology to develop microalgae for marine engineering; under laboratory conditions, their lipid content exceeds 60%, while in outdoor cultivation it is over 40%, yielding 1.00–2.50 tons of diesel per mu per year. If engineered algae are cultivated on a large scale in China’s coastal and inland waters, the production volume could exceed tens of millions of tons. At this stage, large and extra-large plants with an annual production capacity of 0.50 Mt or even over one million tons can be established.