**2.2.1 Characteristics of plant**

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is a crucifer of deep and pivoting root. The stem has a size of 1.5 m approximately. The lower leaves are petiolate but the superiors entire and lanceolate. The flowers are small, yellow, and are grouped in terminal racemes. The fruits have a number of grains by pod around 20-25, depending on the variety. The rapeseed composition is showed in the table 3:

Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil 29

are many types or subspecies grown as ornamental plants, oilseeds and forage plants" (INFOAGRO, Consulted: http://www.infoagro.com/herbaceos/oleaginosas /girasol.htm ). Average sunflower cycle includes between 100 and 150 days according to genotypes, dates of planting, latitude and availability of water and nutrients. The "temperature is the most important factor in the control of the seeds germination being the optimal near to 26 °C with maximum temperatures of 40 °C and minimum from 3 to 6 °C. The threshold for soil temperature (0 to 5 cm) from which normally starts sowing is between 8 and 10 °C" (Diaz-Zorita et al, Consulted: http://www.asagir.org.ar /Publicaciones/cuadernillo\_web.pdf). The availability of water acts on the soaking of seeds, on the subsequent growth of the

Pests of early-onset (e.g. cutting caterpillars, leafcutter ants, velvety larvae, worm wire, tenebrionido of the sunflower, underground grille, weevils, black beetle, slugs, etc.) produce damage in seeds and seedlings. Slugs cause great damage to the leaves. The control is

The biodiesel production is given by the transesterification reaction which consists of three consecutive and reversible reactions. First, the triglyceride is converted in diacylglycerol, and running at monoglyceride and glycerin. In each reaction one mole of methyl ester is

Fig. 2. Stages of the transesterification reaction (Arbeláez & Rivera, 2007. pp 13)

seedling. The water excess decreases the amount of air in the soil.

convenient with treatments of seeds or specific toxic baits.

**3. Biodiesel production process** 

released as shown in Figure 2.

**2.3.2 Pests** 


Table 3. Rapeseed composition.

The seeds are spherical of 2 to 2.5 mm in diameter and when are mature have a reddish or black brown color. Rapeseed has a proportion (39%) of oil where there are a large number of fatty acids of long-chain, which quantitatively the most important is the erucic acid. The cultivation of rapeseed has ability to grow in temperate climates to temperate cold with good humidity. It adapts to different soil types, the ideals are the franc soils of good fertility and permeable which is a very sensitive crop to the superficial flooding.
