BRAINCAKEBiodiesel
Biodiesel is a mixture of methyl esters of long-chain carboxylic acids. It is used as a fuel in diesel engines, either on its own or blended with diesel from crude oil.
It is made by reacting vegetable oils (triglycerides) with methanol in the presence of a catalyst, typically a strong alkali such as sodium or potassium hydroxide. The methanol swaps places with the glycerol in each ester group, so the three fatty acid chains leave as three separate methyl esters, and glycerol is released.
triglyceride + 3CH3OH → 3RCOOCH3 + CH2(OH)CH(OH)CH2OH
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
Key terms in this lesson
- triglyceride
- An ester formed from one molecule of glycerol and three fatty acid molecules, found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
More in Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
- Uses of Esters
- Hydrolysis of Esters
- Vegetable Oils and Fats
- Soap Making
- Acyl Chlorides
- Acid Anhydrides
- Nucleophilic Addition-Elimination Mechanism
- Acylation of Water, Alcohols, Ammonia and Amines
All 16 lessons in Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives · All AQA A-level Chemistry topics