Biodiesel Facts
Biodiesel Facts
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| Interesting Biodiesel Facts: |
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| Biodiesel is renewable as a fuel source. It is able to be produced locally in many countries around the world. |
| Biodiesel is made during a process called transesterification. During this process glycerin is separated from the oil or fat which results in methyl esters and glycerin. The methyl esters are the biodiesel. |
| Biodiesel is capable of powering engines while producing 60% less carbon dioxide emissions. |
| Biodiesel can be more expensive that petro-diesel but in some places, such as Germany, it is actually cheaper than regular diesel. |
| A biodiesel spill does not result in pollution as it is sulphur-free and biodegradable. |
| Biodiesel has roughly 90% of the energy of regular diesel. |
| Biodiesel could become a threat to the environment if the methods used to grow the crops involve monoculture and deforestation. |
| Biodiesel can also be used in paint remover and in solvents. |
| Biodiesel is the only fuel source in the United States to have passed the health Effects testing Requirements set out in the Clean Air Act. Biodiesel has been found to be non-toxic, biodegradable, and to pose no threat to human health. |
| Because biodiesel is non-toxic it can help ti increase air quality in places where it is used in place of petro-diesel. |
| When creating biodiesel from soybeans the protein of the soybeans is a byproduct that can be used for feeding livestock, and some believe it could help to alleviate food shortages for humans as well. |
| The maintenance schedule of a vehicle being run on biodiesel instead of petro-diesel does not need to be altered. |
| Biodiesel is labeled as B, followed by a number. The number indicates the percentage of biodiesel in a biodiesel/petro-diesel blended fuel. B2 contains 2% pure biodiesel and 98% petro-diesel; B5 contains 5% pure biodiesel and 95% petro-diesel; and so on. |
| Biodiesel can be made from a variety of plant sources such as canola, sunflowers, hemp, palm, soy, flax, mustard, coconut, and mahua, jatropha, and camelina. |
| Biodiesel can be made with algae, fish, and tall oils, as well as beef and sheep tallow, poultry fat, and pork lard. |
| Biodiesel may also be possible from cellulosic feedstock which includes biomass from agriculture and forest sources. |
| Biodiesel has the potential to increase the life of an engine. It is a better lubricant and a German truck proved this by traveling 1.25 million kilometers on biodiesel. The engine would not have lasted that long on petro-diesel. |
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