 Biodiesel Christian Andry

What is it?  Clean burning alternative fuel made from renewable resources.  Does not originally contain petroleum, but can be mixed with it to create a biodiesel blend.  Can be used in standard diesel engines with little or no modifications to the original engine.  Easy to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur.

How does it work?  Although it is made from vegetable oils, and scientifically named “mono-alkyl esters.” Biodiesels work just like diesel, but only in diesel engines.  Biodiesel blends are abbreviated Bxx, with the “xx” standing for a percentage of pure biodiesel.  B100 is pure biodiesel, and B20 is the most common blend (20% biodiesel).  Running on biodiesel is almost the same as running on diesel with the exception that you are using a renewable and clean resources that is at a much less cost to you and the environment.

Advantages  Nontoxic (no sulfur)  Biodegradable  Safer to handle  Already can be used in many of today’s vehicles (smooth transition)  Cut reliance on fossil fuels  Easy to make  Better for engines

Disadvantages  Currently produced from corn, which could make food prices rise and contribute to hunger in the world  Less energy and more expensive than regular diesel.  Releases nitrogen oxide, which contributes to smog  Still can contribute to global warming  Significant problems at low temperature.  Susceptible to water contamination.

Environmental Impacts  Contributes far less carbon dioxide to the Greenhouse effect  Contains no sulfur  In the United States, biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have successfully completed the Health Effects Testing requirements (Tier I and Tier II) of the Clean Air Act (1990)  Easily biodegrades into the environment.  Still contributes to global warming/greenhouse effect with carbon dioxide, in addition to releasing nitrogen oxide which contributes to smog.

Development  Very easy to develop, involving little more than the formation of vegetable oil.  Resources to make biodiesel are readily available in U.S. (corn, standard diesel for blending, ect.)  U.S. already has the capacity to produce more than 50 million barrels annually.

Reducing Oil Reliance  Plentiful and renewable energy source to reduce U.S. reliance on oil.  However, it has a lower energy yield, and even contributes more to smog formation and related harmful chemicals than gasoline.  Gasoline counterparts are more efficient with their energy usage, and some even with tailpipe emissions.