Do You Want to Know Where Biodiesel Comes
From?
Biodiesel
fuel as an alternative fuel source, is produced mainly from
vegetable oils. This
fuel is produced chemically by altering the
vegetable oil through a "thinning" process.
It fuel
can also be used in combination with heating oil to heat
residential and industrial buildings.
Diesel fuel made from natural renewable sources such as
vegetable oils or animal fats lowered air-polluting emissions of
heavy trucks in a trial study, according to researchers. Diesel
does offer long lasting, fuel efficient engines and when used with
biodiesel and biodiesel blends-- a clean, long range, affordable
option. Diesel has 40% more energy content than gasoline.
They are also
30-50% more efficient than gasoline
engines.
Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any
level with petroleum diesel to create a blend. These blends are denoted as, "BXX"
with "XX" representing the percentage of biodiesel contained in the
blend (ie: B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel).
Production of biodiesel, according to the University of Idaho
report is very efficient. Production has increased from 1
million gallons per year in 2001 to over 225 million gallons in
2006.
Raw vegetable oil does
not meet biodiesel fuel specifications, it is not
registered with the EPA, and it is not a legal motor fuel. Using
biodiesel fuel, or blending it with regular diesel fuel, can reduce
the production of some
cancer-causing emissions from diesel engines.
There are a lot of real good reports on this subject at
The Biodiesel News. It is one of my favorite
sites for up to date ideas and helpful information on
alternative fuels.
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