Yohei Isayama

Bio: Yohei Isayama is an academic researcher from Kyoto University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Supercritical fluid & Biodiesel. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 3 publications receiving 287 citations.

High quality biodiesel and its diesel engine application: A review

Abstract: The continuous increasing demand for energy and the diminishing tendency of petroleum resources has led to the search for alternative renewable and sustainable fuel. Biodiesel is best substitute for petro-diesel and also most advantageous over petro-diesel for its environmental friendliness. The quality of biodiesel fuel was found to be significant for its successful use on compression ignition engines and subsequent replacement of non-renewable fossil fuels. Conventional biodiesel separation and purification technologies were noticed to yield lower quality biodiesel fuel with resultant excessive energy and water consumptions. Membrane technology showed more potential for effective and efficient separation and purification of biodiesel. This technology need be explored for the attainment of better quality biodiesel fuels. This paper reviews the technologies used for the biodiesel separation and purification, biodiesel quality, and its effects on diesel engines. Biodiesel biodegradability, lubricity, stability, economic importance, and gaseous emissions have been discussed.

Overview of the production of biodiesel from Waste cooking oil

Abstract: In recent years, biodiesel has attracted significant attention from researchers, governments, and industries as a renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic fuel. However, several feedstocks have been proven impractical or infeasible because of their extremely high cost due to their usage primarily as food resources. Waste cooking oil (WCO) is considered the most promising biodiesel feedstock despite its drawbacks, such as its high free fatty acid (FFA) and water contents. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the pre-treatment and the usage of WCO for the production of biodiesel using several methods, different types of reactors, and various types and amounts of alcohol and catalysts. The most common process in the production of biodiesel is transesterification, and using a methanol–ethanol mixture will combine the advantages of both alcohols in biodiesel production. In addition, this paper highlights the purification and analysis of the produced biodiesel, operating parameters that highly affect the biodiesel yield, and several economic studies. This review suggests that WCO is a promising feedstock in biodiesel production.

Biodiesel from vegetable oils

Abstract: Biodiesel is gaining acceptance in the market as fuel and lubricant. It is expected that biodiesel industries will rapidly grow worldwide in the coming years and information on biodiesel feedstock, production, and characteristics will be crucial than ever especially for those using vegetable oils as feedstock as these are currently the major sources for making biodiesel. In the present paper, a comprehensive review is reported on feedstock, production technologies, and characteristics of biodiesel. More specifically, selected available vegetable oils are explored as feedstock for biodiesel production. Production technologies including latest catalyst developments are discussed. Finally, biodiesel characteristics and parameters influencing the corresponding properties are revealed. Since this paper covers a wide range in biodiesel area, it serves as a general public education medium as well as a research reference for biodiesel production from vegetable oils.

A review of biomass-derived fuel processors for fuel cell systems

Abstract: Fuel cell coupled with biomass-derived fuel processor can convert renewable energy into a useful form in an environmental-friendly and CO2-neutral manner. It is considered as one of the most promising energy supply systems in the future. Biomass-derived fuels, such as ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, glycerol, and biogas, can be fed to a fuel processor as a raw fuel for reforming by autothermal reforming, steam reforming, partial oxidation, or other reforming methods. Catalysts play an important role in the fuel processor to convert biomass fuels with high hydrogen selectivity. The processor configuration is another crucial factor determining the application and the performance of a biomass fuel processing system. The newly developed monolithic reactor, micro-reactor, and internal reforming technologies have demonstrated that they are robust in converting a wide range of biomass fuels with high efficiency. This paper provides a review of the biomass-derived fuel processing technologies from various perspectives including the feedstock, reforming mechanisms, catalysts, and processor configurations. The research challenges and future development of biomass fuel processor are also discussed.