Potential of Biodiesel Production from WVO and SVO in Iran

The easily and readily available feedstock today to produce biodiesel in Iran for short term is WVO. About 1.5 million tons of edible vegetable oil is consumed annually in the country, out of which 90% is imported. The oil collection was carried out at biodiesel laboratory of Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) Bioenergy Research Center (BRC), Tehran, Iran based on a scientific collection system. Out of 1.5 million tons of edible cooking oil consumed in Iran annually, about 20-25% can be considered as WVO, which is a suitable biodiesel feedstock. The result of a national project jointly carried out by TMU and IFCO on feasibility study to find potential raw material for production of biodiesel from SVO indicate that the jatropha, palm oil, castor plant and micro algae are the most suitable for cultivation in Iran. These oil producing plants can be grown in most of the provinces throughout Iran. Different scenarios show that 10-20% of the diesel fuel consumption for transportation sector can be easily replaced by SVO plantation. A strategic R&D program of biodiesel production and application (from farm to fuel tank) has already been initiated at TMU.