Preface : The technical concept of using vegetable oils or animal fats or even used oils as a renewable diesel fuel is a fascinating one. Biodiesel is now the form in which these oils and fats are being used as neat diesel fuel or in blends with petroleum-based diesel fuels. The concept itself may appear simple, but that appearance is deceiving since the use of biodiesel is fraught with numerous technical issues. Accordingly, many researchers around the world have dealt with these issues and in many cases devised unique solutions. This book is an attempt to summarize these issues, to explain how they have been dealt with, and to present data and technical information. Countless legislative and regulatory efforts around the world have helped pave the way toward the widespread application of the concept. This book addresses these issues also. To complete the picture, chapters on the history of vegetable oil-based diesel fuels, the basic concept of the diesel engine, and glycerol, a valuable byproduct of biodiesel production, are included. We hope that the reader may find the information in this book useful and stimulating and that most of the significant issues regarding biodiesel are adequately addressed. If a reader notices an error or inconsistency or has a suggestion to improve a possible future edition of this book, he or she is encouraged to contact us.
This book has been compiled from the contributions of many authors, who graciously agreed to do so. We express our deepest appreciation to all of them. We also sincerely thank the staff of AOCS Press for their professionalism and cooperation in bringing
the book to print.
Gerhard Knothe
Jon Van Gerpen
J ü rgen Krahl
November 4, 2004
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