Disadvantages of herbaceous oil-bearing plants as feedstock in the biodiesel production

Abstract

The cultivation of non-edible oil-bearing plants as feedstocks for the biodiesel production can aggressively take advantage of natural environments. Herbaceous non-edible oil-bearing plants have been significantly favored as an ideal feedstock for biodiesel fuel, though little is known about its industrial feasibility and environmental impact. The items with the greatest sensitivity in capital and ecology are land acquisition, plant life cycle, mechanical harvesting, fertilizer, control of weed, pests and diseases, seed yield and oil content. This study aims at analyzing the disadvantages of herbaceous non-edible oil-bearing plants and suggests impeding their industrial cultivation for the biodiesel production. The source of information for the proper selection of non-edible oil-bearing plants suitable as biodiesel feed-stocks has been the recent relevant literature. Herbaceous non-edible oil-bearing plants have a low phytoremediation potential and oil yield, but high weed potential. They occupy a large arable area while demand harder cultivation conditions and mechanical harvesting. Non-edible oils from woody plants are promising biodiesel feedstock. However, the weed potential of woody oil-bearing plants must also be considered to prevent their invasiveness.