Summer BanksBiodiesel and working
August 16th 2006 13:57
biodiesel
In our daily routines, there's a good chance of someone mentioning it. Whether it's in automotives, economics, history, geography, or politics, oil has managed to filter into almost every aspect of our daily lives. It's one of the most discussed (and controversial) commodities that consumers rely on daily.
Lost in the mix are the biofuels, fuels made from biological ingredients instead of fossil fuels. These starting ingredients can range from corn to soybeans to animal fat, depending on the type of fuel being made and the production method.
Generally speaking, biodiesel is an alternative or additive to standard diesel fuel that is made from biological ingredients instead of petroleum (or crude oil). Biodiesel is usually made from plant oils or animal fat through a series of chemical reactions. It is both non-toxic and renewable. Because biodiesel essentially comes from plants and animals, the sources can be replenished through farming and recycling.
Biodiesel is safe and can be used in diesel engines with little or no modification needed. Although biodiesel can be used in its pure form, it is usually blended with standard diesel fuel. Blends are indicated by the abbreviation Bxx, where xx is the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture. For example, the most common blend is B20, or 20 percent biodiesel to 80 percent standard. So, B100 refers to pure biodiesel.
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The Pros :
Biodiesel has several key advantages:
Biodiesel is environmentally friendly.
It can help reduce dependency on foreign oil.
It helps to lubricate the engine itself, decreasing engine wear.
It can be used in almost any diesel with little or no engine modification.
It is safer than conventional diesel.
The Cons and the future :
Of course, nothing is without penalty, and biodiesel does have its drawbacks. Some have to do with the fuel itself, and many have to do with the bigger picture.
One of the problems with the fuel itself is the increase in NOx in biodiesel emissions. Often, in diesel fuel manufacturing, when you decrease the amount of particulate matter in the emissions, there is a corresponding increase in nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog formation. Though some of this can be addressed by adjusting the engine itself, that's not always feasible. There are technologies being researched to reduce NOx amounts in biodiesel emissions.
Given the number of different producers (i.e., federal, private, industrial) and crop sources, it's hard to attach a neat figure. Right now, the U.S. produces approximately 75 million gallons of biodiesel per year (National Biodiesel Board). This production is flexible, and can be increased or decreased as needed.
Whether or not it grabs the spotlight occupied by flashier technologies, biodiesel will certainly be a constant work in progress.
As public awareness grows, biodiesel and biofuels in general could easily find their way into dinner conversations. Political support is also on the rise and, in the wake of legislation such as the 1998 EPACT amendment, alternative fuel sources will be a necessity in the not-so-distant future.
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