Alternative fuel research for automobiles has increasingly focused on the potential use of alkyl esters, especially methyl esters, from renewable fatty oils. Positively it utilizes promotes due to the fact that the Kyoto protocol is ratified in February 2005. Fatty acid methyl (or ethyl) ester which is called as “biodiesel Fuel” already has been utilized positively in Europe and the United States as a fuel for the diesel engines. This paper, describes the trend and future of research and development in biodiesel fuel production and fuel quality.

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Biodiesel, an alternative diesel fuel derived from vegetable oils, animal fats or used frying oils, largely consists of the mono-alkyl esters of the fatty acids comprising these feedstocks. One of the major technical issues facing biodiesel is its susceptibility to oxidation upon exposure to oxygen in ambient air. This susceptibility is due to its content of unsaturated fatty acid chains is a complex process that proceeds by a variety of various other factors influence the oxidation process of biodiesel including presence of light, elevated temperature, extraneous materials such as metals which may be even present in the container material, peroxides, and antioxidants, as well as the size of the surface area between biodiesel and air. Approaches to improving biodiesel oxidative stability include the deliberate addition of antioxidants or modification of the fatty ester profile. This article discusses some factors influencing biodiesel oxidation.

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Glycerin is well known traditional chemical substance for long years, and consumed world widely. But this situation was changed by a rapid growth of biodiesel in the world and it caused price corruption and oversupply. As a result, it looks like glycerin could find a new application under this situation, but suddenly, glycerin lost these one because of skyrocketed feedstock market price due to a rapid growth of biodiesel and a big new purchase power by China. Now, market is very complicated, and I try to focus these situations and discuss glycerin future outlook.

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