Biodiesel+2



Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel made from soy beans, vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled restaurant greases. It is safe, biodegradable, and produces less air pollutants than petroleum-based diesel. It can be used in place of petroleum diesel fuel for vehicles or heating oil for buildings. It is a renewable resource, and it creates less pollution than petroleum diesel. It can be used alone or in combination with petroleum diesel, or with heating oil. Biodiesel is easier to integrate into out current systems than other alternative energy sources because it doesnt have any expensive costs for engines. Biodiesel is designated by the letter B and a number representing the percent of the fuel that is biodiesel. The rest of the fuel is petroleum diesel. For example, a mixture of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel would be labeled B20. This ratio of biodiesel to petroleum diesel is commonly used.
 * Definition:**

Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification where the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products. The two products are methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products). Biodiesel fuel is made from oils or fats, which are both hydrocarbons, most commonly soybean oil. These hydrocarbons are filtered, then mixed with an alcohol, which is usually methanol, and a catalyst (sodium or potassium hydroxide). The major products of this reaction are the biodiesel fuel, which is an ester, and glycerol, which has commercial uses, such as in cosmetics.
 * What is its source? (where does it come from or how is/was it formed?)**

It is very similar to a petroleum product, but it is better because it pollutes the air less. Biodiesel is carbon neutral. Plants use all the CO2 emitted when biodiesel burns.
 * How is this source used to make energy? (is it burned, “captured,” etc)**

The equipment need to convert the raw material into energy is a form of oil, like vegetable oil.
 * What equipment do you need to convert the “raw material” into energy?**

Some farms in the United States use Biodiesel for their machinery when the Falmouth School Department and the Oakhurst Milk Company use biodiesal to fuel their buses.
 * Give a real-life example of where it is used, and how.**

-National economy. Using biodiesel keeps our fuel buying dollars at home instead of sending it to foreign countries. This reduces our trade deficit and creates jobs. -100% renewable. Because Biodeisel is made from soy beans grown for fuel, or from cooking oils recycled from restaurants, it makes it renewable resource -There is an excess production of soybeans in the United States, so biodiesel is an economic way to control this surplus. -Less polluting than petroleum diesel. Biodiesel produces less soot (particulate matter), carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and sulfur dioxide. -Can also be used in combination with heating oil to heat residential and industrial buildings. This reduces dependence on non-renewable and increasingly expensive heating oil. -Generally be used in existing oil heating systems and diesel engines without modification, and it can be distributed through existing diesel fuel pumps. This is an advantage over other alternative fuels, which can be expensive to use initially due to high cost of equipment modifications or new purchases. Biodiesel provides almost the same energy per gallon as petroleum diesel. -The lubricating effects of the biodiesel may extend the lifetime of engines.
 * Advantages**

-Currently about one and a half times more expensive than petroleum diesel fuel. The source of what is most commonly used for biodiesal is soybean which is only 20% oil, which makes it more expensive. Costs can be lowered by making biodiesel from recycled cooking oils rather than from new soy beans, or by making it from plant matter with higher oil content. -It takes energy to produce biodiesel fuel from soy crops, including the energy of sowing, fertilizing and harvesting. -Biodiesel cleans dirt from engine. This dirt then collects in the fuel filter, which can clog it. Clogging occurs most often when biodiesel is first used after a period of operation with petroleum diesel, so filters should be changed after the first several hours of biodiesel use. -Biodiesel is not distributed as widely as traditional, petroleum diesel, but distribution infrastructure is improving.
 * Disadvantages.**

The most unusual fact I learned was……. -Biodiesel dramatically reduces cancer-causing emissions -Makes a great solvent, cleaner and paint remover