What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel produced
from domestic,
renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can
be blended at any
level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be
d. It can be
used in compression ignition (diesel) engines with no major modifications.
Biodiesel is simple to use,
biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
Technical Definition: Biodiesel,
n—a fuel composed of mono-alkyl
esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or
animal fats, designated B100, and meeting the requirements of ASTM
(American Society for Testing & Materials) D 6751.
Is biodiesel used as a pure fuel or is it blended with petroleum
diesel?
Biodiesel can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum
in any percentage.
B20 (a blend of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent petroleum
diesel) has
demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum
increase in cost for
fleet operations and other consumers.
Is it approved for use in the U.S.?
Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the Environmental
Protection
Agency (EPA) and meets clean diesel standards established by the
California Air
Resources Board (CARB). Neat (100 percent) biodiesel has been designated
as an
alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S.
Department of
Transportation (DOT).
How do biodiesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel?
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed
the health effects testing
requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional
diesel engine results in a substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons,
carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from
diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides
and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are
essentially eliminated compared to diesel.
Of the major exhaust pollutants, both unburned hydrocarbons and
nitrogen oxides are ozone or smog forming precursors.
The use of biodiesel results in a substantial reduction of unburned
hydrocarbons. Emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly
reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle of the
engine and testing methods used. Based on engine testing, using
the most stringent emissions testing protocol required by EPA for
certification of fuels or fuel additives in the U.S., the overall
ozone (smog) forming potential of the hydrocarbon exhaust emissions
from biodiesel is nearly 50 percent less than that measured for
diesel fuel.
Can I use biodiesel in my existing diesel engine?
Biodiesel works in any diesel engine with few or no modifications
to the engine or the
fuel system. Biodiesel has a solvent effect that may release deposits
accumulated on
tank walls and pipes from previous diesel fuel usage. The release
of deposits may end up in fuel filters initially, so fuel filters
should be checked more frequently at first. Ensure that only fuel
meeting the biodiesel specification (D 6751) is used.
Can biodiesel help mitigate “global warming”?
Biodiesel is the best greenhouse gas mitigation strategy for today’s
medium and heavy duty vehicles. A 1998 biodiesel lifecycle study,
jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, concluded biodiesel reduces net carbon
dioxide emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel. This
is due to biodiesel’s closed carbon cycle. The CO² released
into the atmosphere when biodiesel is burned is recycled by growing
plants, which are later processed into fuel.
Does biodiesel take more energy to make than it gives back?
No. Biodiesel actually has the highest “energy balance” of
any transportation fuel. The DOE/USDA lifecycle analysis shows
for every unit of fossil energy it takes to make
biodiesel, 3.2 units of energy are gained. This takes into account
the planting,
harvesting, fuel production and fuel transportation to the end
user.
Is biodiesel better for human health than petroleum diesel?
Scientific research confirms that biodiesel exhaust has a less
harmful impact on human health than petroleum diesel fuel. Pure
biodiesel emissions have decreased levels of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrited PAH compounds that have been identified
as potential cancer causing compounds. Also, particulate matter,
an emission linked to asthma and other diseases, is reduced by
about 47 percent, and carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, is reduced
by about 48 percent.
Does biodiesel cost more than other alternative fuels?
A federal tax incentive is expected to help lower the cost of biodiesel
blends in both
taxable and tax exempt markets. Additionally, when reviewing the
high costs
associated with other alternative fuel systems, many fleet managers
determine
biodiesel is their least-cost-strategy to comply with state and
federal regulations. Use of biodiesel does not require major engine
modifications. That means operators keep their same fleets, spare
parts inventories, refueling stations and skilled mechanics.
Do I need special storage facilities?
In general, the standard storage and handling procedures used for
petroleum diesel
can be used for biodiesel. The fuel should be stored in a clean,
dry, dark environment.
Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminum, steel, fluorinated
polyethylene,
fluorinated polypropylene and teflon. Copper, brass, lead, tin,
and zinc should be
avoided. The DOE Biodiesel Handling/Use Guidelines can be found
at
www.biodiesel.org.
