Are there other uses for Biodiesel?
Is petroleum diesel renewable?
How do emissions from Biodiesel compare to other fuels?
A. Biodiesel's most important use is for fueling diesel engines. Many types of trucks, buses, and heavy equipment use diesel engine technology. On average diesel engines are 30 to 40% more efficient than comparable gasoline engines. There are even a few diesel passenger cars sold in the US that can operate on Biodiesel! We like to run our vehicles on B100 (100% biodiesel) however, biodiesel can be blended at any concentration with petroleum diesel.
Q.Are there other uses for Biodiesel?
A. Biodiesel can be used to heat your home, school, or office. It can also be used as a low flashpoint, non toxic parts cleaner. Biodiesel is an excellent solvent.
Q.What is Biodiesel made from?
A. Biodiesel is made by reacting animal or plant oils with alcohol. It can even be made from used french-fry oil! Since plants and animals get their energy either directly or indirectly from the sun, biodiesel made from these products can be considered a form of stored solar energy.
A. Yes, Biodiesel made with methanol is 90% RENEWABLE. This means we can produce more to replace what we use. Biodiesel is reported to have one of the best energy balances of all of the alternative fuels (ratio of energy input to produce compared to energy available per gallon).
Q.Is petroleum diesel renewable?
A. No, Petroleum diesel (also called dino-diesel) comes from underground reservoirs. It takes millions of years for geologic processes to produce petroleum reserves. Once petroleum is extracted from the ground it does not get replaced in our lifetime.
Q.How do emissions from Biodiesel compare to other fuels?
A.Biodiesel is a CLEAN fuel. Cars and trucks that run on Biodiesel produce less of many types of air pollution. Biodiesel is naturally very low in sulfur and reduces the amount of smog and acid rain formed by tailpipe emissions. Biodiesel also reduces the amount of greenhouse gases put into our air because CO2 is recaptured in the production of vegetable oils. Greenhouse gases are the cause of long term climate change problems such as global warming.
Q.Is Biodiesel safe to use and handle?
A. Biodiesel is SAFE. It will not burn unless heated to over 250 °F. Biodiesel is also biodegradable and non-toxic. Accidental spills of Biodiesel will be decomposed by bacteria in the environment. Biodiesel is one of the safest fuels to store, handle, and use … but don't drink it!
Q.How does Biodiesel benefit the US economy?
A.Biodiesel is made from products that are grown and processed here in the USA. Biodiesel creates jobs for American farmers and other workers. By keeping most of the money in the local economy we are also helping reduce our imbalance of trade with foreign countries.
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