How was biodiesel discovered?

Biodiesel was discovered in the 19th century when French chemist Pierre Eugène Marcellin Berthelot first synthesized fatty acid methyl esters in 1853. However, the modern use of biodiesel as a renewable fuel gained momentum in the 1970s when researchers started exploring alternatives to petroleum due to the oil crises. In 1978, Dr. Rudolf Diesel demonstrated his engine running on peanut oil, highlighting the potential of vegetable oils as fuel. This laid the groundwork for the development and commercialization of biodiesel from various feedstocks in subsequent decades.