The diagram illustrates the process of producing biodiesel from oil crops and shows how it forms a continuous cycle.
Overall, biodiesel production involves several stages, beginning with plant growth and ending with fuel consumption, after which carbon dioxide is recycled back into the system. Notably, the process is cyclical because the emissions produced during combustion are reused for plant growth.
At the first stage, oil crops grow through photosynthesis, using sunlight and carbon dioxide as sources of energy. Once the plants mature, their seeds are harvested and the oil is extracted. This crude vegetable oil then undergoes a refining process to produce refined vegetable oil.
Next, the refined oil is mixed with alcohol and a catalyst. This chemical reaction results in two products: biodiesel and glycerol. While biodiesel is used as fuel for vehicles such as buses and ships, glycerol is supplied to the food and cosmetic industries as a by-product.
When biodiesel is burned, it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide is subsequently absorbed by growing plants, enabling the cycle to continue.
