Feasibility study for the production of biofuels from Brassicaceae spp. and nicotiana tabacum oilseeds and from by-products or waste materials

Biodiesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable, environmentally friendly alternative diesel fuel, produced from food-grade vegetable oils through a transesterification reaction with methanol and an alkaline catalyst. Using not refined or waste oils as a feedstock represents a convenient way to lower biodiesel production costs. The main problem using this type of low-cost feedstock lies in its high content of FFA (Free Fatty Acids), leading to the formation of soaps during the transesterification reaction. The use of Brassicaceae spp. (B. carinata, B. juncea) and Nicotiana tabacum for biodiesel production is investigated. Using a LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) we assess the sustainability of biodiesel production from these two innovative cultivations in crop rotation. B. carinata has high yield both in adverse conditions and under low cropping system. The aim is to exploit Brassiacaceae spp. better agronomic performances in areas characterized by unfavorable environmental conditions for other cultivations. Moreover Brassicaceae spp. tissues contain high concentrations of glucosinolates that can be hydrolyzed to isothiocyanate by the plant enzyme under conditions of physical injury. Biofumigation effect of isothiocyanate release from soil-incorporated Brassicaceae spp. tissues is known to reduce soil plant pathogens and it could be an alternative method to chemical plant disease control measure. This is useful for Nicotiana tabacum, susceptible to nematode infection, being an interesting alternative oil seed cultivation due to its high yield patent selections (Fogher et al.). Tacking advantage of all these Brassicaceae spp. and Nicotiana tabacum characteristics it could be possible not only to produce high yield of oil seeds but also to reclaim nematode infected fields. Vegetables oils produced from new kinds of oil seeds were selected and de-acidified by the direct esterification reaction of their FFA in presence of pure methanol and using solid acid resins as heterogeneous catalysts in mild working conditions (T = 338 K).