Biofuels from animal fatty raw material : availability and quality assessment

Biodiesel is widely perceived as a source of ecological energy used to power compression ignition engines as an alternative to fossil fuels. Depletion of fossil fuels and increasing environmental awareness of society has led to an increased demand for energy derived from renewable sources. This phenomenon requires acquisition of raw material used for biofuel production. In order avoid controversies related to misuse of edibles; sources of biofuel production should be viewed as inedible or waste materials. This paper presents an analysis of possible sources of animal material intended for biofuel production. An examination of the quality assessment for biofuels obtained in the laboratory setup, produced from swine lard and turkey fat is presented. The results have been compared to rapeseed biofuel and commercial diesel fuel as fuels commonly used to power compression ignition engines. The paper concerns an examination of pure biofuels and their mixtures with commercial diesel fuel in three different proportions. Parameters such as density, viscosity, acid value, cold filter plugging point, oxidation stability, sulphur content, total contamination, water content and flash point has been examined according to procedures outlined in the PN-EN 14214 Standard. Based on the results, biofuels and their mixtures have been analysed for use in compression ignition engines.