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Energy
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Non-Renewable Sources:
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Energy Conservation:
Energy
Efficiency
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Liquid Bio-fuels -
Biodiesel
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Environmental Events
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Dr. Dele Morakinyo, a contributor to
EnvironBusiness.com has written a book on Biodiesel and other clean
fuels. Click the image above to get a copy or click
Clean Energy Fuels
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Biodiesel is an organic diesel fuel or
diesel fuel derived from organic sources. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel
to petroleum diesel fuel. Similar to petroleum diesel fuel, biodiesel can
be used in diesel engines.
Biodiesel is a clean burning fuel. It is non-toxic,
biodegradable, produces
60% less C02 than petroleum based diesel fuel and is free of
sulphur
and aromatics. It burns
better with a higher cetane rating.
Biodiesel fuel is made from:
Biodiesel can also be made from
grains (e.g. canola and soya beans) and other farm produce. Large scale
biodiesel production can be achieved through the growing of several acres
of these farm produce to provide feedstock for a biodiesel manufacturing
plant.
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There are arguments that biodiesel production is competing for the
crops and lands that we use for food. However, in most parts of the world,
there seems to be sufficient land, water and other resources to plant
crops for food and biodiesel at the same time. For the complete list of
feedstocks for producing biodiesels, click
here.
Biodiesel is produced through a chemical
process called transesterification. Vegetable oil or other biodiesel
producing feedstock is mixed with alcohol (methanol or ethanol) and a
catalyst (e.g. sodium hydroxide). The resulting reaction produces
two products:
methyl esters (which is the biodiesel) and glycerin.
Glycerin is used in the manufacturing of soaps and related products, while
biodiesel is used to run compression-ignition (diesel) engines.
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Biodiessel can be used in diesel engines with little or no
modifications. 100% biodiesel could be used in some vehicles, particularly
in hot climates or in vehicles properly designed to heat up the biodiesel
fuel to ensure it remains in liquid form always. In cold climates, the
biodiesel becomes viscous and can clog up and prevent the engine from
running. Generally, most applications use the blended form of biodiesel.
The pure biodiesel is blended with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel
blend. Biodiesel blends are denoted as, "BXX" with "XX" representing the
percentage of biodiesel contained in the blend.
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B10 blend is 10% biodiesel, 90% petroleum diesel,
B100 represents pure biodiesel while B5
represents 5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel and so on. The blend
level is determined by economics, availability, the desired emissions
level, material compatibility and combustion characteristics and what is
allowed or recommended by vehicle manufacturers. Most vehicle engine
manufacturers in North America now allow up to a B5 level biodiesel blend
while some select manufacturers grant warranty, under specific conditions,
up to a B20 level blend.
Using biodiesel as an alternative fuel to
petroleum diesel to combat global warming is only of noticeable benefit
over the life cycle. Direct greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions are only very slightly lower using biodiesel over petroleum
diesel in diesel engines. However, over the life cycle through the growing
of the plant feedstock (e.g. oilseeds plants which serve as carbon sink),
redirecting animal and plant wastes capable of ending in landfill and
generating more methane GHG gas, there is a significant reduction in GHG
emissions. Possible reductions over the life cycle are:
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Pure biodiesel |
60 to 100% reduction |
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B20 |
12 to 18% reduction |
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B2 |
1 to 2% reduction |
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The use of biodiesel also leads to reduction
in global warming because the feedstock or raw materials for producing
biodiesel can be obtained from recycling of wastes -
agro-industry residues/wastes such as slaughterhouse waste, recycled
cooking oil, non-food-grade virgin oil or agricultural surplus.
Other relevant links:
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