Biofuel Research

Staff from relevant disciplines are forming this new multidisciplinary research grouping. The activities in liquid fuel research range from the synthesis of biofuels, through to their testing in diesel engines, to the economics of biofuel use. Research in the broader area of low carbon energy includes wind turbine design, new approaches to harnessing solar power, and even policy matters over nuclear power. Details of these fields of research will be added over the next few weeks.

Biodiesel synthesis and catalysis

Prof D R Brown

Research in the Materials and Catalysis area (Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences) is directed towards new solid base catalysts for triglyceride transesterification, and solid acid catalysts for the pre-treatment (esterification) of free fatty acids in low grade oils. Working with catalyst manufacturers, our objectives are to reduce the waste and the energy consumed in biodiesel manufacture.

We are able to prepare biodiesel at the laboratory scale and at a 50-100 litre batch scale, and we are working with Dr J Fieldhouse and Dr R Mishra in the Department of Automotive Engineering, on evaluation of biodiesel in diesel engines