Identification of Non-Conventional Seeds Oil as a Potential Feedstock for Biodiesel Production

Energy is the critical input factor for the socioeconomic development and welfare of human being of any country. Fossil fuels are the major sources for the energy demand since their exploration. Due to limited reserves of fossil fuels, environmental degradation, and volatility in fuel prices, there is a growing need for energy security and protection of the environment. Country like India with an agricultural background has wasteland of about 55.27 million hectares, which can be utilized for growing plants/crops, which produce non-edible oil in appreciable quantity. Various non-convetional fruit seeds containing large amount of oil such as Soapnut, Hirda, Gulmohar, Hingot, Babool, Cotton, etc. can be used for biodiesel production. Thus indigenously produced biodiesel, which is defined as the mono-alkyl ester of vegetable oils or animal fats, obtained by transesterifying oil or fat with an alcohol, is considered one of the options to substitute the petroleum fuels.