Latest trends in feedstocks for biodiesel production

Edible seed oil biodiesel has been criticized due to its low sustainability and potential conflict with food and fiber production for the use of arable land, besides high water and fertilizer requirements. In this context, biodiesel from non-edible sources, like animal fat, waste oil, insect oil, or single cell oil constitutes an alternative biofuel that omits the previous drawbacks. In this review and taking into account the previous consideration, the most interesting feedstocks for biodiesel production are shown. While frying oils and animal fats constitute the most extensively studied non-edible raw materials for biodiesel production, soapstocks are gaining interest among the scientific community. Finally, promising feedstocks for biodiesel production, such as microbial oil (also named single cell oil), insect oil, or microdiesel are reviewed. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd