ABSTRACT
Currently, the prevalent levels of carbon emissions driving up global temperatures are primarily due to fossil fuel burning in transportation. Carbon-neutral renewable fuel types are currently seen as the main way forward in dealing with this problem. Biodiesel is seen as a major carbon-neutral replacement fuel source that can significantly reduce the dependence on fossil fuel sources. However, the currently available raw materials, technology, and infrastructure are insufficient for production of biodiesel in substantial quantities that may replace its fossil fuel counterpart to a larger extent. Novel feedstock types for production of biodiesel and more innovative methods for production and downstream processing optimization are therefore required to increase biodiesel production to substantial levels. Recent literature lacks a comprehensive analysis that can let researchers and policy makers know the current and emerging technologies that may enable cost-effective and large-scale biodiesel production from feedstocks that do not compete directly with other critical aspects, such as food production. This book chapter aims to identify the most prominent recent scientific advances made in organic feedstock types into biodiesel. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive outlook on biomass types, genetically engineered feedstock types, and process optimization of raw material extraction for biodiesel production.
