How To Make Biodiesel
An Eco-Friendly Alternative to Big Oil
The big topic in the news today is the price of fuel. No matter where you live in the world, the cost of oil has created a concern among the drivers of the world. Today you can find websites solely devoted to finding the best price for gas, and environmental debates are rampant on finding new places to drill for oil. This new energy crisis has prompted a renewed look at the possibility of using biodiesel. Not necessarily a new type of fuel, it is finding a renewed backing by those who feel it could be the fuel of the future.
Wondering if biodiesel is really the alternative fuel of the future? Well, there is still a lot of debate. Yet as we explore biodiesel, how it is made, and what it means for drivers around the world, you will be able to get more of an idea if biodiesel is going to be the "next big thing." In the meantime, making your own biodiesel is still a viable option and only requires you to make some simple modifications to your engine.
The Pros
Pro #1: When blended with petrodiesel, biodiesel assists in extending the energy capacity of the diesel. Pro #2: Biodiesel is an energy source that is not just limited to vehicles. It can also be used to heat your home and power other equipment besides vehicles.
Pro #3: Biodiesel uses as much carbon dioxide and it emits. In fact, a 20 percent blend with biodiesel will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15 percent, plus it lowers the amount of particulates, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide in auto emissions. Used on its own, biodiesel will provide a virtual 100 percent decrease in sulfur dioxide.
Pro #4: Biodiesel is significantly less combustible that petrodiesel. This means that biodiesel is much safer to store and transport. In fact, biodiesel has a flashpoint of 300 F, while petrodiesel has a flashpoint of 125 F.
Pro #5: Biodiesel is biodegradable. It is said that biodiesel breaks down at the same rate as sugar, which is four times faster than petrodiesel. The biodegradable nature of biodiesel has prompted many marine markets to use biodiesel in their boats in order to promote clean water.
Pro #6: Biodiesel is more lubricating than petrodiesel, meaning that it can extend the life of your engine. Plus fuel consumption, auto ignition, power output, and engine torque remain relatively unchanged when you use biodiesel.
Pro #7: Biodiesel is less toxic than table salt, making it safer to handle.
Pro #8: Unless you love the smell of petrodiesel, which most people do not, you will be able to enjoy the smell of biodiesel. The odor that burnt biodiesel emits is reminiscent of popcorn or fresh French fries.
Pro #9: One of the biggest pros of biodiesel is that it can reduce our reliance on foreign oil sources, because it is made from a renewable crop of plants and seeds that produce oil like corn, hemp, and soybeans.
Pro #10: Per the Ames Mutagenicity tests, there is a 90 percent reduction in cancer risks when using biodiesel.
Pro #11: Biodiesel can be used in any unmodified diesel engine. However, if one wants to use a straight vegetable oil (SVO) in the engine, there will need to be some simple modifications needed.
Pro #12: According to the National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel would cumulatively boost crop cash receipts by $5.2 billion by the year 2010. It would also provide an average net farm increase of $300 million per year. The Biodiesel Association of Australia notes that the incre
Pro #3: Biodiesel uses as much carbon dioxide and it emits. In fact, a 20 percent blend with biodiesel will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15 percent, plus it lowers the amount of particulates, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide in auto emissions. Used on its own, biodiesel will provide a virtual 100 percent decrease in sulfur dioxide.
Pro #4: Biodiesel is significantly less combustible that petrodiesel. This means that biodiesel is much safer to store and transport. In fact, biodiesel has a flashpoint of 300 F, while petrodiesel has a flashpoint of 125 F.
Pro #5: Biodiesel is biodegradable. It is said that biodiesel breaks down at the same rate as sugar, which is four times faster than petrodiesel. The biodegradable nature of biodiesel has prompted many marine markets to use biodiesel in their boats in order to promote clean water.
Pro #6: Biodiesel is more lubricating than petrodiesel, meaning that it can extend the life of your engine. Plus fuel consumption, auto ignition, power output, and engine torque remain relatively unchanged when you use biodiesel.
Pro #7: Biodiesel is less toxic than table salt, making it safer to handle.
Pro #8: Unless you love the smell of petrodiesel, which most people do not, you will be able to enjoy the smell of biodiesel. The odor that burnt biodiesel emits is reminiscent of popcorn or fresh French fries.
Pro #9: One of the biggest pros of biodiesel is that it can reduce our reliance on foreign oil sources, because it is made from a renewable crop of plants and seeds that produce oil like corn, hemp, and soybeans.
Pro #10: Per the Ames Mutagenicity tests, there is a 90 percent reduction in cancer risks when using biodiesel.
Pro #11: Biodiesel can be used in any unmodified diesel engine. However, if one wants to use a straight vegetable oil (SVO) in the engine, there will need to be some simple modifications needed.
Pro #12: According to the National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel would cumulatively boost crop cash receipts by $5.2 billion by the year 2010. It would also provide an average net farm increase of $300 million per year. The Biodiesel Association of Australia notes that the incre
The Cons
Con #1: Biodiesel can result in slight increases of nitrogen oxide emissions when used in diesel engines, although this does not usually occur in heating equipment. There is still some debate as to the increase in nitrogen oxide emissions, as some tests have resulted in lower levels of nitrogen oxide when using biodiesel.
Con #2: It will release an equal amount of hydrocarbon emissions when burned as regular diesel. Though when used alone, it reduces unburned hydrocarbons by 90 percent and has a 75 to 90 percent reduction in aromatic hydrocarbons. Con #3: The clouding point of biodiesel is higher than petrodiesel. This means that biodiesel starts to thicken when the temperature becomes low. This can add to the cost of transporting diesel in colder climates.
Con #4: Biodiesel is slightly more expensive than petrodiesel. However, as biodiesel becomes more popular and production increases, it is likely that the cost of biodiesel will decrease to equal or lower levels than petrodiesel.
Con #5: It is a concern that some third world countries will start cutting down rainforests to try and make money off of oil producing crops. This could negatively impact the environment. In a 2005 report by George Monbiot, he claims that the impact on third world countries could be significant as they plant vegetation to create biodiesel rather than food.
Con #6: When making your own biodiesel, it is very important to follow the recipe exactly and to use proper safety equipment. There are some hazardous chemicals being handled in making biodiesel, and there is a risk of fire or explosion if used incorrectly.
Con #2: It will release an equal amount of hydrocarbon emissions when burned as regular diesel. Though when used alone, it reduces unburned hydrocarbons by 90 percent and has a 75 to 90 percent reduction in aromatic hydrocarbons. Con #3: The clouding point of biodiesel is higher than petrodiesel. This means that biodiesel starts to thicken when the temperature becomes low. This can add to the cost of transporting diesel in colder climates.
Con #4: Biodiesel is slightly more expensive than petrodiesel. However, as biodiesel becomes more popular and production increases, it is likely that the cost of biodiesel will decrease to equal or lower levels than petrodiesel.
Con #5: It is a concern that some third world countries will start cutting down rainforests to try and make money off of oil producing crops. This could negatively impact the environment. In a 2005 report by George Monbiot, he claims that the impact on third world countries could be significant as they plant vegetation to create biodiesel rather than food.
Con #6: When making your own biodiesel, it is very important to follow the recipe exactly and to use proper safety equipment. There are some hazardous chemicals being handled in making biodiesel, and there is a risk of fire or explosion if used incorrectly.
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