The Fuel of the Future: Biodiesel
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Biodiesel: The Fuel of the Future
Biodiesel is considered the fuel of the future because it is clean and helps lessen global warming. Biodiesel is produced from domestic, renewable resources like animal fats and vegetable oils. It can be used alone or blended with petroleum at any level.
Compression-ignition diesel engines can use this fuel with little or no modifications at all. Scientific evidence reveals that biodiesel reduces net carbon dioxide emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel. It is also cheaper in some countries than diesel.
Biodiesel manufacturing facilities make the fuel through a process called transesterification. In the transesterification process, the fat is purified. It then reacts with alcohol through catalysts such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. They are then transformed into glycerol and esters.
Biodiesel is what remains after the process. Manufacturers can use the fats of animals and a number of plant oils to make the fuel. It can be derived from the plant oils of palm, sunflower, peanut, soybean or canola. Even recycled cooking grease can be made into biodiesel, though it is not the same as raw vegetable oil.
Most cars that run on diesel engines can use biodiesel. Car manufacturers have lists of cars that can run on pure biodiesel. One amazing thing about the fuel is that it acts as a solvent or cleaner. It loosens deposits that could clog the engine. Because of this, it lubricates the engine and makes it run smoother. The result is that the engine actually lasts longer because the fuel leaves few or no deposits at all.
Biodiesel is renewable and biodegradable. It helps fight global warming through its closed carbon cycle. The fuel itself is made from carbon dioxide through photosynthesis in plants. When the carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, it is recycled by plants, which are then later processed again into fuel.
However, biodiesel does have a few drawbacks. It has a tendency to produce more nitrogen oxide emissions than diesel. These substances contribute to the formation of smog. Another disadvantage is its availability. Despite these problems, biodiesel is still the fuel of choice for environmentalists and people who just want to help fight global warming.
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