Callophyllum Inophyllum as Biodiesel Feedstock in Malaysia: Potential and Challenges

Abstract

Higher global energy demand has led to significant concerns regarding energy sustainability, food security, global warming, pollution as well as fossil fuel depletion. Currently, biodiesel appears to be the key to clean energy that can be utilized immediately as biodiesel has potential to replace conventional diesel. Biodiesel has ability to penetrate transportation and energy generation market. However, 95% of world biodiesel production depends on first generation biodiesel feedstock which are edible feedstock such as palm, rapeseed, soybean and sunflower which are costly as well affect the food market equilibrium. In order to overcome issues with first generation edible feedstock, second generation non-edible feedstocks such as Callophyllum Inophyllum (CI) are introduced as new biodiesel feedstock. CI has high oil yield, high heating value and it also meets US American Society for Testing and Materials standard (ASTM) D6751 and European standards (EN) EN14214 biodiesel standard. Furthermore, CI has ability to produce high yield in barren land with low cost. Such feedstock can be used in transportation industry as well as energy generation. This study explores the potential and challenges of biodiesel from CI in Malaysia.