1. Biodiesel S3 Chemistry Mini-Assignment 2

2. What is Biodiesel Virtually everyone thinks that renewable sources of energy are better than continuing to burn fossil fuels. However people can’t agree on which renewable energy source would be the best choice. Biodiesel seems to be a good choice. It is made from plants which use up carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. So, when it is burned, it will not add to the ‘greenhouse effect’.

3. Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain carbon containing compounds. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol. Biodiesel is meant to be used in standard diesel engines and is thus different from the vegetable and waste oils used to fuel converted diesel engines. Biodiesel can be used alone, or blended with diesel.

4. Bio-diesel is becoming more widely known since the EU and UK governments agreed that 5.75% of all fuels sold had to be ‘bio’ by 2010. For petro-diesel meant adding bio-diesel to it making it a blend. What you can currently buy in garage forecourts as ‘bio-diesel’ is referred to a B5 ( This is 5% biodiesel to 95% normal diesel). It is also possible in some places to find a B30 mix and a few places sell pure biodiesel – B100

5. Things to Consider

9. Websites http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9 030052&contentId=7055186 http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9 030052&contentId=7055186 (Small BP Video) http://www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk/ http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/02- 03/biofuels/what_biodiesel.htm http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/02- 03/biofuels/what_biodiesel.htm http://greenfuels.co.uk/ http://www.environment- agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/32599.aspx http://www.environment- agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/32599.aspx http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/sep/21/bio diesel-industry-eu-policy-changes http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/sep/21/bio diesel-industry-eu-policy-changes (Interesting news article)