Biodiesel production: Status and perspectives

The natural fossil fuels are exhausting due to the rapid growth of global economy and population. Biodiesel, a green and renewable fuel, has been seriously explored as an alternative source of fuel which can be produced by the transesterification reactions of different kinds organic feedstocks (e.g., vegetable oils, animal lipid, microbial oils, etc.) and short-chain alcohol (e.g., methanol, ethanol, or their mixture) in the presence of suitable catalysts. This chapter offers an overview of the status and perspectives of biodiesel production with the focuses on the current biodiesel situation, production methods, factors affecting future biodiesel industrialization, and possible solutions. The perspectives and directions forwards are also outlined.