Gary Patterson asked:


No company and/or industry today are immune from the escalating cost of crude oil. In an effort to address this growing concern, companies are seeking alternative, cost-effective ways to make every drop of fuel count. Although biodiesel is not a new type of fuel, its use has not been widely considered up until now. Today, its popularity is rapidly growing as an alternative to petroleum-based fuel that can be used in various blends in unmodified diesel engines.

Biodiesel comes from vegetable oils that undergo transesterification, a chemical process that extracts methyl or ethyl esters from the oil. This extraction can be used as fuel, either in a pure or blended form. The oils come from renewable, organic sources, such as coconut, soybean, grape seed, jatropha, or from waste vegetable oil.

In an effort to promote the development and use of alternative fuels, the United States government provides incentives and tax credits to producers and users of renewable and alternative fuel, such as biodiesel. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been drafting policies that will mandate private fleets and government vehicles to replace their vehicles with those that are ready for alternative fuel (read: diesel vehicles must be biodiesel ready).

The Pros – Biodiesel is commercially available at many pumps throughout the United States as a blend with petroleum diesel. Proponents say blends of up to 20 percent (B20) may be used in most conventional diesel engines, before costly modifications are needed. Advocates assert that there is no significant difference between biodiesel and petroleum diesel when it is blended properly. In fact they argue that biodiesel provides the same mileage, torque, and horsepower that petroleum diesel provides.

Proponents stress the many advantages of using biodiesel in vehicles. For starters, it is a cleaner fuel that reduces carbon dioxide emissions up to 80%. With new regulations, biodiesel has almost zero sulfur dioxide content. Studies also suggest that lower blends of biodiesel are more fuel efficient, which makes car engines last longer. In addition, biodiesel is less of a noise pollutant in diesel engines because of its high octane ignition rating. This means biodiesel can make cold starting easier since it heats up more easily than petroleum diesel.

The beneficiaries of biodiesel will be fleet vehicles and the public transportation sector. As oil prices have increased dramatically over the past year, biodiesel is becoming a more appealing alternative because it is cheaper to produce and is more environmentally sound. In addition, the price of biodiesel may be more stable than petroleum diesel. For example, lower blends of biodiesel (B2, B5, and B10) can cost less than petroleum diesel. B20 is sold at almost a similar price to petroleum diesel, but prices are expected to decrease as petroleum prices increase in the world market while local producers and supply of biodiesel increase.

The Cons – Opponents stress that biodiesel has different solvent properties that can break down deposits in the fuel lines where petrodiesel has been used. If and when gas stations start offering biodiesel, opponents say they will need to replace fuel lines. Opponents expand their argument by stating that biodiesel can also degrade rubber components, which means that rubber fuel pumps and seals will also need to be replaced with a synthetic rubber. This is not great for consumers whose warranty may not apply if they convert to biodiesel.

One of the problem advocates gloss over, however, is that although there are good number of biodiesel suppliers in some states, other states still do not have enough suppliers and producers of biodiesel to justify the switch to biodiesel vehicles. Currently, northern central states like Minnesota, Michigan, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri have several suppliers of biodiesel. In other states, only selected suppliers provide biodiesel to local pumps, suggesting that the proposed government mandates do not realistically consider the impact and consequences of this mandate on states where suppliers and producers are low.

Investors are quick to point out that there must be a growing demand in other states in order for businesses to justify investing in distribution facilities in other locations. That said, with petroleum prices expected to continue to rise, proponents believe that consumers will consider switching to biodiesel and other alternative fuel, thus creating a demand. With rising demand, gas stations are expected to install more pumps that carry biodiesel.

While the conversion to using more biofuels appears to be inevitable, some question how the conversion will be executed. Timing and associated costs of the changes are still not clear. There is also the issue about the direct and indirect costs of converting compounded by the question of which groups will benefit and which groups will suffer. With congressional leadership favoring the acceleration of greener energy that clearly benefits their constituents and lobbyists, there will definitely be winners and losers.

In the final analysis, the biodiesel debate points to the urgency for businesses to begin planning NOW for the inevitability of a greener world, with its intended and unintended consequences. Will you be prepared?



Caffeinated Content

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Biodiesel is known as an alternative fuel for burning. Biodiesel fuel comes from 100% renewable resources. Biodiesel can be used in vehicle, while mixing it with petroleum to produce biodiesel blend. Biodiesel is biodegradable. Biodiesel fuel produces about 60% less net lifecycle carbon dioxide emission, as compare to it is itself produced from atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is being watched that smog forming hydrocarbon emission are 35% greater and the Nitorgen Oxide emission are also greater.

Diesel engine used pure biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel is very safe to use, it is non toxic. Biodiesel is not alternative for vegetable oil. It can be used in its unaltered form in diesel engines. Only vegetables oil fuels must be changed and which is being used in combustion or ignition engines. It makes biodiesel one of the easiest alternative fuels to use. It is being get used in farm equipment.

Biodiesel fuel is made through process known as Tranesterfication. In this process, glycerin is taken out from vegetable oil or fat. Byproducts like methyl and glycerin being left in between the process. Biodiesel is free from sulfur and other aromatic which generally used to occur in traditional fuels. This unique quality of Biodiesel makes it different from other alternative. Biodiesel has passed all the health cautious test, means it is taken care that it should not affect human being. It is legally registered under environment protection agency. It can be legally sold and distributed in any part of world, while other alternative fuels cannot be sold legally.

Biodiesel is very much economical because it does not require costly raw material. Whatever the raw material it requires comes from plants and biodegradable, so it does not involves much cost. Now days it is rapidly becoming available to the general public. It is available at selected places in country or it can be directly bought from producer. Now its demands getting high, everybody is realizing benefit of biodegradable. It is a very much cheapest way to get biodiesel fuel is to make Biodiesel at home on yourself.

There are some vehicle manufacturers; who are positive about the use of biodiesel. For example, lower engine wear is cited as one of the fuels benefits. Biodiesel is very good than other standard diesel fuel. It used to clean the engine, also removes deposited dust in the fuel line. It is recommended by car manufacturer to change the engine after few months after switching to biodiesel. There are manufacturers that have released list of cars that run of Biodiesel.

Biodiesel is being use as a heating fuel, also in domestic and commercial boilers. There are some existing boilers that are needed to convert to biodiesel, but overall, it does not take much effort or cost to convert to biodiesel.

Note B100 should not be burned in home heaters. And biodiesel is generally more expensive to purchase than any other petroleum diesel, but this difference diminish due to economy. In Germany Biodiesel is cheaper than normal diesel at gas station.



Website content

Joseph Then asked:


With the price of traditional fuel rising faster everyday, people everywhere are looking for alternatives. Electric cars were once touted as the way to save the environment and beat the cost of gasoline, but they are so expensive that very few people can afford to save money by purchasing one.

Alternative fuels have long been discussed as a way to cut fuel prices and help the environment, but with the specialized engines they require, and their inability to pass the regulation tests required by the EPA, they have been a disappointment. The more solutions that are offered to the problem of high fuel costs and dangerous emissions, the further it seems we are from a solution…until now.

There is a fuel alternative that is all that it has promised to be and more. Biodiesel is not only cost effective it is environmentally friendly, as well. Biodiesel is completely biodegradable and made from renewable resources. That means that when you use biodiesel to power the engine of your car you aren’t robbing the earth of the riches meant for your grandchildren to enjoy.

Unlike the previous vegetable oil based fuels that can only be used in modified, specially made combustion- ignition engines, biodiesel can be used in its basic form to power the everyday diesel engines on the market today. That means that a simple to make batch of biodiesel could be used to power the family car on its daily errands.

Biodiesel is registered with the EPA as a legal motor fuel meaning that it can be sold and distributed just like the gasoline you pump into your car at the gas station. Unlike traditional gasoline, biodiesel isn’t as widely available for the average consumer. It can be purchased directly from distributors and manufactures and it is sold a few select stations around the country. If you are interested in trying biodiesel in your car, your best chance of finding it is to make it yourself.

The process is surprisingly easy and the ingredients are readily available. By simply mixing lye, alcohol, and vegetable oil in the right amounts, you can great biodiesel. This economical alternative fuel is made through the simple chemical process of transesterification. During this process, the glycerin is removed from fat or vegetable oil. The process naturally leaves behind byproducts, including methyl esters, which is the chemical name for biodiesel, and glycerin, commonly used in soap production. Biodiesel is completely free of sulfur and aromatics, something that can’t be said about traditional fuels.

Batches of biodiesel can be mixed up in small or large sizes and if done effectively will end up costing about seventy cents a gallon.