COCODIESEL: Putting a Coconut in Your Tank!

Lately there's been a lot of publicity about alternative fuels, specifically, biofuels (from vegetable oil). The focus has been on ethanol (from sugarcane and corn oil), rapeseed biofuel, and fuel from waste cooking oil.

In coconut-producing countries such as the Philippines, the big star in the biofuel stage is coconut biodiesel, also known as coconut methyl ester, or CME, derived from coconut oil. CME, which is used as a diesel additive or blend, is produced using transesterification, a process that involves the reaction of coconut oil with methanol under high temperature and using catalysts to produce ester and glycerol.

Transesterification results in products which can match properties of commercial diesel fuel, which means that CME can be used as a blend with diesel without any engine modification (unlike ethanol and other biofuels). Currently in the Philippines, one percent (1%) CME is being used.

CME has three properties of coconut oil which can improve the performance of the engine: lubricity, solvency and detergency. Studies show that the use of CME results in better combustion, less emission, more engine power, cleaner engine, and lower maintenance cost. (It must also be noted that in the Philippines, as is true in other developing countries, transport vehicles run on old and refurbished engines; commercial diesel used also has higher sulfur content - thus, the dramatic results of tests, particularly in reduction of emission and NOX content, as well as in better power and acceleration.)

There are two Philippine companies - Chemrez, Inc. and Senbel Corp. - that manufacture CME. Export markets include Japan and Germany. Philippine government vehicles are required through a Presidential Mandate to use a 1% blend. Legislation is currently being considered mandating the use of CME in all transport vehicles country-wide.

Meanwhile, tests of CME blend in stationary gensets show the same dramatic results - an encouraging development especially as the Clean Air Act was passed by the Philippine Congress nearly two years ago.

So, if you want to put a coconut in your tank, think COCODIESEL!