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Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact
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Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2025 | Viewed by 4807

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Egle Sendzikiene

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environment and Ecology, Bioeconomy Research Institute, Vytautas Magnus University, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: biofuel and biogas production; usage and influence on environment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues:

Biodiesel and biolubricants are widely used in industrial production respectively. In the energy field, biodiesel, as a renewable fuel with high oxygen content, has the advantages of improving the combustion process, reducing soot and sediment, and is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel alternative. Compared with traditional lubricants, biolubricants have the advantages of being degradable and less polluting, which can effectively reduce the emission of atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases. Biodiesel is used in transportation, power generation, heating, agricultural machinery and other fields. Biolubricants can replace traditional lubricants in engine oil, hydraulic oil, compressor oil, gear oil, grease and other industrial applications. 

This special issue focuses on the precursors, production preparation, chemical/biological decomposition, energy generation and consumption, and effects on the environment of biodiesel and biolubricants. We hope to collect and organize research in related directions and bring cutting-edge research and insights to scholars and readers. Relevant research topics include but are not limited to new raw materials and methods for biodiesel and biolubricant production; life cycle assessment (LCA), and techno-economic analysis. Original research papers, communications and review articles will be considered for submission.

Prof. Dr. Egle Sendzikiene
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • non-edible fuel sources
  • biodiesel production
  • biolubricant production
  • biodiesel properties
  • biolubricant properties
  • environmental impact
  • life cycle analysis

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1571 KiB  
Article
Modification of Canola Oil Properties Using Ethyl Oleate and n-Hexane
by Katarzyna Szymczyk, Anna Zdziennicka and Bronisław Jańczuk
Energies 2025, 18(14), 3802; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18143802 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025
Abstract
Canola oil (rapeseed oil, RO), despite being a potential source of biofuel, needs some modifications of its properties to be effectively used as a fuel. The reason RO needs to be altered lies above all in its viscosity, fatty acid composition, and other [...] Read more.
Canola oil (rapeseed oil, RO), despite being a potential source of biofuel, needs some modifications of its properties to be effectively used as a fuel. The reason RO needs to be altered lies above all in its viscosity, fatty acid composition, and other chemical properties, which affect its efficiency as a fuel. These properties of RO can be changed by mixing it with various bioadditives, among other methods. For this reason, studies of the physicochemical properties of mixtures including RO, n-hexane (Hex), and ethyl oleate (EO) were carried out. These mixtures were prepared at a constant EO concentration and a ratio of n-hexane in the mixture with RO in the range from 0 to 1. For these mixtures, the surface tension, density and viscosity were measured. The obtained results were considered to determine the chemical properties of particular components of the mixtures. From these considerations, it results that based on the properties of these components, the surface tension and density of the studied mixtures can be described, and their viscosity can be predicted. These facts and results of the measurements suggest that based on the properties of the mixture components, we can determine the composition of a mixture whose surface tension, density, and viscosity are close to those of diesel fuel. The results obtained from the measurements also suggest that the addition of 10% n-hexane to RO causes a considerable reduction in the surface tension, viscosity, and density of RO. The addition of 10% of EO to this mixture results in a further reduction in RO + Hex viscosity and increases its density and surface tension slightly. As such, a mixture of RO with Hex and EO may be appropriate as a biofuel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact)
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14 pages, 3627 KiB  
Article
Performance Assessment of a Diesel Engine Fueled with Biodiesel in a Plateau Environment
by Guangmeng Zhou, Xumin Zhao, Zhongjie Zhang, Zengyong Liu, Surong Dong and Qikai Peng
Energies 2025, 18(8), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18081955 - 11 Apr 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 364
Abstract
Biodiesel has a higher oxygen content and a higher cetane number, which can compensate for the intake oxygen deficiency in diesel engines in a plateau environment to a certain extent. However, the decreased air density makes biodiesel fuel spray atomization and evaporation more [...] Read more.
Biodiesel has a higher oxygen content and a higher cetane number, which can compensate for the intake oxygen deficiency in diesel engines in a plateau environment to a certain extent. However, the decreased air density makes biodiesel fuel spray atomization and evaporation more difficult due to its higher density and kinematic viscosity, reducing the quality of the air-fuel mixture. The investigations in this study focus on the effects of biodiesel blending ratios and their coupling with injection timing on diesel engine performances under varying altitude conditions. The results show that as the altitude increases, using a high proportion of biodiesel-blended fuel results in a lower degree of torque reduction. The torque reduction of B100 is 14% lower than that of baseline at an altitude of 4500 m. In addition, when the altitude increases by 2000 m, the optimal fuel injection timing is delayed by 4° CA, regardless of the biodiesel blending ratio. The low-temperature combustion heat release ratio of biodiesel engines slightly increases with the delay of injection time, which is increased with the biodiesel blending ratio. For B100 fuel, increasing the pilot injection quantity under high-altitude conditions helps to improve the heat release rate during the early and late stages of combustion and reduce expansion losses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact)
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18 pages, 4028 KiB  
Article
Separation of Rapeseed Oil Transesterification Reaction Product Obtained Under Supercritical Fluid Conditions Using Heterogeneous Catalysts
by Yuri A. Shapovalov, Sergei V. Mazanov, Almaz U. Aetov, Dyusek H. Kamysbaev, Rustam R. Tokpayev and Farid M. Gumerov
Energies 2025, 18(7), 1669; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071669 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 342
Abstract
Rapeseed oil transesterification reaction with ethanol under supercritical fluid conditions was performed either in the presence of catalysts or without them. The catalysts were Al2O3 and AlOOH, obtained after Al2O3 hydrothermal processing, and CaO/Al2O3 [...] Read more.
Rapeseed oil transesterification reaction with ethanol under supercritical fluid conditions was performed either in the presence of catalysts or without them. The catalysts were Al2O3 and AlOOH, obtained after Al2O3 hydrothermal processing, and CaO/Al2O3 and CaO/AlOOH, obtained after permeation. The obtained product was measured for dynamic viscosity and density. Based on these data, kinematic viscosity was calculated. Biodiesel fuel was separated via centrifugation to extract more viscous ethyl esters of saturated fatty acids and unreacted triglycerides in order to comply with the standards for biodiesel fuel. Analyses have found that the maximum content of obtained ethyl esters of fatty acids in a reaction product before separation is reached, in the case of using the CaO/AlOOH catalyst, is in the amount of 93.34% by mass; and none of the samples’ kinematic viscosity values comply with the standards for biodiesel fuel. Performing centrifugation allowed us to reduce viscosity and increase biodiesel fuel concentration to reach the EN14214 standard requirements. Also, a significant deterioration of the initial catalysts’ strength after the singular experiment has been observed: Al2O3 by 22.4%, AlOOH by 13.89%, CaO/Al2O3 by 25.13%, and CaO/AlOOH by 17.27%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact)
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15 pages, 2559 KiB  
Article
Atomistic Details of Methyl Linoleate Pyrolysis: Direct Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Converting Biodiesel to Petroleum Products
by Michael J. Bakker and Matthew R. Siebert
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2433; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102433 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 1463
Abstract
Dependence on petroleum and petrochemical products is unsustainable; it is both a finite resource and an environmental hazard. Biodiesel has many attractive qualities, including a sustainable feedstock; however, it has its complications. The pyrolysis (a process already in common use in the petroleum [...] Read more.
Dependence on petroleum and petrochemical products is unsustainable; it is both a finite resource and an environmental hazard. Biodiesel has many attractive qualities, including a sustainable feedstock; however, it has its complications. The pyrolysis (a process already in common use in the petroleum industry) of biodiesel has demonstrated the formation of smaller hydrocarbons comprising many petrochemical products but experiments suffer from difficulty quantifying the myriad reaction pathways followed and products formed. A computational simulation of pyrolysis using “ab initio molecular dynamics” offers atomic-level detail of the reaction pathways and products formed. Herein, the most prevalent fatty-acid ester (methyl linoleate) from the most prevalent feedstock for biodiesel in the United States (soybean oil) is studied. Temperature acceleration within the atom-centered density matrix propagation formalism (Car–Parrinello) utilizing the D3-M06-2X/6-31+G(d,p) model chemistry is used to compose an ensemble of trajectories. The results are grounded in comparison to experimental studies through agreement in the following: (1) the extent of reactivity (40% in the experimental and 36.1% in this work), (2) the homology of hydrocarbon products formed (wt % of C6–C10 products), and (3) the CO/CO2 product ratio. Deoxygenation pathways are critically analyzed (as the presence of oxygen in biodiesel represents a disadvantage in its current use). Within this ensemble, deoxygenation was found to proceed through two subclasses: (1) spontaneous deoxygenation, following one of four possible pathways; or (2) induced deoxygenation, following one of three possible pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact)
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Review

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35 pages, 6541 KiB  
Review
Biodiesel Production and Life Cycle Assessment: Status and Prospects
by Sergio Nogales-Delgado
Energies 2025, 18(13), 3338; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18133338 - 25 Jun 2025
Viewed by 301
Abstract
Biodiesel synthesis, particularly through transesterification, is a mature technology in constant evolution and update. These innovative changes should be validated from different points of view: economic, social, and, especially, environmental perspectives. In this sense, life cycle assessment (LCA) is the perfect procedure to [...] Read more.
Biodiesel synthesis, particularly through transesterification, is a mature technology in constant evolution and update. These innovative changes should be validated from different points of view: economic, social, and, especially, environmental perspectives. In this sense, life cycle assessment (LCA) is the perfect procedure to verify the sustainability of these advances. This brief review covered the present status and future prospects of life cycle assessment (LCA) applied to biodiesel production. For this purpose, the current energy scenario, along with the foundations of biodiesel production and LCA, has been explained, including current research about the specific application of LCA to biodiesel from various perspectives. As a result, LCA was proven to be a versatile tool that can be easily adapted to biodiesel production, which includes continuous innovative works that should be validated from an environmental perspective. However, the counterpart is the heterogeneity found in LCA studies in general, especially concerning functional units (from 1 MJ to 1 t of biodiesel, for instance) and boundary system selection, mainly due to the wide range of possibilities in biodiesel processing. This fact makes the comparison between works (and general recommendations) difficult, requiring additional research. Nevertheless, further studies will cover the existing gaps in LCA, contributing to completing the outlook on its application to biodiesel. Nevertheless, biodiesel production, compared to diesel, normally presents better environmental impacts in categories like global warming and ozone depletion potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact)
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13 pages, 425 KiB  
Review
The Potential of Dolomite as a Heterogeneous Catalyst in Biodiesel Synthesis: A Review
by Violeta Makarevičienė, Ieva Gaidė, Eglė Sendžikienė and Milda Gumbytė
Energies 2025, 18(11), 2920; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112920 - 2 Jun 2025
Viewed by 414
Abstract
Biodiesel is obtained by transesterification of triglycerides using catalysts. The possibilities of using a natural catalyst—dolomite in the synthesis of biodiesel are explored in this article. The conditions for preparing dolomite are presented, with considerable emphasis placed on the dependence of the structural [...] Read more.
Biodiesel is obtained by transesterification of triglycerides using catalysts. The possibilities of using a natural catalyst—dolomite in the synthesis of biodiesel are explored in this article. The conditions for preparing dolomite are presented, with considerable emphasis placed on the dependence of the structural changes and activity of dolomite on the calcination conditions. The optimal conditions for the transesterification of triglycerides with methanol are discussed, along with the possibilities for dolomite regeneration and reuse. It has been established that the calcination temperature of dolomite ranges from 800 to 900 °C, and using it can produce biodiesel that meets standard requirements, but this requires a large excess of alcohol in the transesterification reaction medium. The main issues related to the use of dolomite are linked to increasing catalytic activity and the possibilities of regenerating and reusing it. Researchers have recently focused on this by studying the possibilities of modifying dolomite using physical and chemical processes. The findings are contradictory and further studies are necessary, the possibilities for reuse have also been insufficiently explored. It is appropriate to analyze the economic indicators of dolomite preparation, modification, and regeneration in comparison with the preparation of other catalysts, so that the use of this catalyst aligns with the principles of sustainable synthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact)
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26 pages, 1052 KiB  
Review
Study on Biodiesel Production: Feedstock Evolution, Catalyst Selection, and Influencing Factors Analysis
by Fangyuan Zheng and Haeng Muk Cho
Energies 2025, 18(10), 2533; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18102533 - 14 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1068
Abstract
As fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution become increasingly severe, biodiesel has emerged as a promising renewable alternative to conventional diesel due to its biodegradability, low sulfur emissions, and high combustion efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of biodiesel [...] Read more.
As fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution become increasingly severe, biodiesel has emerged as a promising renewable alternative to conventional diesel due to its biodegradability, low sulfur emissions, and high combustion efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of biodiesel feedstocks, major production technologies, and key factors influencing production efficiency and fuel quality. It traces the development of feedstocks from first-generation edible oils, second-generation non-edible oils and waste fats, to third-generation microalgal oils and fourth-generation biofuels based on synthetic biology, with a comparative analysis of their respective advantages and limitations. Various production technologies such as transesterification, direct esterification, supercritical alcohol methods, and enzyme-catalyzed transesterification are examined in terms of reaction mechanisms, process conditions, and applicability. The effects of critical process parameters including the alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, reaction time, and temperature on biodiesel yield and quality are discussed in detail. Particular attention is given to the role of catalysts, including both homogeneous and heterogeneous types, in enhancing conversion efficiency. In addition, life cycle assessment (LCA) is briefly considered to evaluate the environmental impact and sustainability of biodiesel production. This review serves as a valuable reference for improving biodiesel production technologies, advancing sustainable feedstock development, and promoting the commercial application of biodiesel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiesel and Biolubricant: Production, Sources and Environmental Impact)
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