All About Biodiesel - Kits

Homemade Biodiesel Kits Are Considered As an Investment
By Cheryl Forbes

Prices of gasoline and all petroleum products have gone up once again. With the impending gloom of the global economic crisis and recession, we have to make do with what we have. We have to think of ways to save and make money to be able to survive the expenses of everyday living. This should be on top of everybody's minds. Beat the pressure of the financial crisis by trying out homemade products. We should start with homemade biodiesel kits that are available in the market these days. We should try to make our own gasoline. It does not hurt to try. The tools used are simple and user friendly that it can be used at home. If you are successful, you can even make money out of it by selling the biodiesel products to your next door neighbor. If it works well for you, you can even sell it online and you can make use of it for everyday uses. That is how we can beat the financial crisis. The technique is to make small batches first before making large ones.

Making homemade biodiesel is not only easy on the pockets since you will be making your own fuel but it helps the environment too. The reason why it is good for the environment is, it is free of sulfur. It only uses vegetable oil and the oil goes through the process of transesterification. Thus, it has always been considered an investment to buy homemade biodiesel kits. So invest in one and you would not regret it, you just have to make sure that you use it.

Cheryl Forbes owns and operates the website http://www.homemadebiodieselkits.com

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All About Biodiesel

All About Biodiesel and the Environment

Biodiesel Facts and the Environment
By Joe Hayes

Today, nature cries for desperate help. For the continuously depleting ozone layer, worsening exhaustion of black smoke from our cars, and the exploitation of natural resources. Likewise, we people cry for the soaring price of petroleum gas. Extensive research has been conducted with the objective of comforting the cries of both man and nature. They found out that biodeisel is the answer.

But what is biodiesel? Biodiesel is a renewable fuel oxygenated and made from various agricultural methods and resources. These resources may be vegetable oils, soybeans, grape seeds, or animal fats.

What makes it different to the petroleum fuel? Physically, the biodeisel is similar to the petroleum or diesel fuel, but the difference is in the emission properties since biodeisel is significantly superior in that matter. It has far better lubricating properties compared to the diesel fuels.

What makes it stand out? One of the things that make the biodiesel stand out is its renewability. Since it is a domestic energy supply, the biodiesel can greatly aid reduce the dependence on petroleum imports. The biodiesel is also non-toxic and biodegradable which makes it fit perfectly well in sensitive environments.

How is biodiesel produced? The biodiesel results from the chemical process of separating cold-pressed output into the methyl esters and the glycerin. This process is referred to as transesterification. Producing biodeisel is easy which makes biodiesel production at home very possible with the use of household materials such as lye and methanol. But the process will have to require extensive caution when dealing with the chemicals. Lack of care might lead to injury and danger.

You might think that biodiesel is the same and one with the raw vegetable. But you're definitely wrong on that. Fuel-grade biodiesel must undergo and conform with strict industry specifications during the process of production to assure excellent performance. Biodiesel is the single alternative fuel which has passed the 1190 Clean Air Act Amendments' health effects testing requirements. On the other hand, the raw vegetable oil failed to meet the specifications and testing requirements which does not make it a legal vehicle fuel.

Regarding its availability and prices, the global diesel production aimed to 3.8 million tons of biodiesel in 2005. This great production rate made biodiesel fairly accessible to everyone in the market at a remarkable lower price compared to that of the petroleum fuel.

With the numerous benefits of biodiesel, it rightfully and eventually will ease and comfort the cries in this world. Help soothe our crying world, start using biodiesel now. You can even make it at home at a cost of less than thirty-five cents per gallon.

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All About Biodiesel - Production

Biodiesel Production
By Brandon Paulson

Conventional diesel and fuels are products of petroleum. They are now in shortage and in high demand, hence the increased price we've been seeing at the pump over the past few years. This has caused every country to be on the look-out for cheaper and renewable resources of diesel. Conventional petroleum is a product of coal and other decaying plants in the earth in high pressure, and the formation of which takes years. However, biodiesel that is produced form plants is a renewable source.

Biodiesel seems to be the best substitute or optional fuel. It is produced from domestic resources, such as crops or plants that are high in oil content. Another added benefit is that the life of automobile engines is also increased as biodiesel is a good lubricating agent. It is also safer to handle than petrodiesel.

Biodiesel production sources vary from vegetable oils, plant oils, animal fats, greases etc. These are converted into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). For its synthesis, 3 major steps are to be followed irrespective of the source:

1. Transesterification of the oil - Alkali mediated
   
2. Transesterification of oil - Acid mediated
   
3. Oil to fatty acid conversion and production of biodiesel.
   

Transesterification is the process of exchange of ester groups and alkoxy group catalyzed by an acid or base. Here, glycerin is separated from the vegetable oil leaving behind methyl esters, which is essentially biodiesel. The glycerin is a byproduct used in soap production.

Biodiesel lacks petroleum and can be used in pure, or blended to any level with a petroleum diesel to recreate a biodiesel blend. The blends are named B20 for those that contain 20% Biodiesel and 80% petrodiesel and B5 for containing 5% biodiesel and 95% petrodiesel. B100 is 100% pure biodiesel. The blends usually are prices about the same as petrodiesel, while the pure forms of B99 or B100 are generally priced at higher rates.

This blend can be used for combustion of diesel engines with minimum or no changes. Biodiesel is said to be 'clean burning' i.e. does not emit pollutants like Carbon mono oxide, sulphur (100% SO2 emission free) smoke, etc. Hence, it can be called an eco - friendly solution to the environmental pollution issues.

Biodiesel usage does not require the changes of internal engines or other body parts. Modifications are required only if the engine has rubber fuel lines. This change does not have any adverse effect on the performance or power of the engine. The gasoline engines are not compatible with biodiesel, making conventional compression-ignition (diesel) engines a requirement for anyone who wants to run their vehicle on biodiesel.

The blended forms of biodiesel are available at affordable rates. In 1998, a biodiesel study was jointly conducted and sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture, reported net carbon dioxide emissions to be up to 78 percent lower when biodiesel was used compared to petroleum based diesel.

Surprisingly, biodiesel is not a boon only for cars. Itt can be used for trains, aircrafts, and even as heating oil for domestic and commercial purposes. Heat produced from biodiesel is referred to as bioheat. Again, rubber piping should be changed as they will be affected by the solvent property of biodiesel.

Learn more about biodiesel processors at our website, Biodiesel-Processors.com

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All About Biodiesel

All About Biodiesel and Other Biofuels

The Wide Variety of Biofuel Sources
By Shelly Wagar

There are many pros and cons of methanol fuel, but this alternative energy source can play a part in meeting the energy needs of the future. Methanol may also be called wood alcohol or M85 which is a blend of 85% percent methanol mixed with 15% gasoline. This type of biofuel is similar to ethanol and is very efficient and clean burning, making it eco friendly. Methanol is produced using a process that starts with methane gas and then uses steam and catalysts to turn this gas into biofuel. There are a few disadvantages to methanol, because this fuel does not operate as well in cold weather, but this problem has been fixed when M85 is created instead of a straight methanol mixture. Methanol does not contribute to global warming or pollution, and is a very powerful alternative fuel source.

Another earth friendly option is the biomass fuel biobutanol as direct replacement of gasoline. Biobutanol offers many benefits. This fuel is a better alternative than ethanol and fossil fuels. Biobutanol does not have a corrosive effect like ethanol, and requires less engine maintenance and repair. It does not evaporate as quickly as other fuels, so it can be stored much longer without losing effectiveness. There is no conversions or alterations needed to a traditional gasoline engine to burn biobutanol fuel instead, so switching over can be very convenient and simple to do. It is a biofuel which is low cost, clean burning, and could be used right now in place of traditional gasoline and other fossil fuels.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as LPG, is another solution to using fuels which do not pollute or speed up global warming, even though this fuel is really a fossil fuel found in the earth. What is a liquefied petroleum gas? This fuel is a naturally occurring gas that can be found around other fossil fuel reserves in the earth, and is a combination of both propane and butane gas. This fuel is carbon based, but half a million vehicles in the U.S are LPG fueled and it does not have a negative impact on the environment. The gas is highly pressurized and there is an airtight delivery system, so no gas can get into the air. This fuel reduces sulfur in the air and acid rain, as well as greenhouse emissions and air pollution.

Another alternative method is to use municipal solid waste management to produce biomass fuel. This technology takes municipal solid waste, or garbage, and turns it into biofuels which can power your car, as well as electricity and heat for your home. Cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel can be produced from municipal solid waste. All organic materials can be used in these processes to provide biofuels which are safer and nicer to the earth and environment. Biofuels cut down on carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, and will not contribute to global warming. A few third world countries have objected to biofuels because of food shortages, but using municipal solid waste to produce biofuels does not affect the food supply at all.

One alternative and renewable fuel source is waste vegetable oil, also called WVO. The future of waste vegetable oil, just like the future of municipal solid waste management, is strong and bright for the same reasons. Both technologies take something that has been discarded and turns it into a valuable energy resource. Many people have seen commercials and news stories about cars and owners who use discarded waste vegetable oil for fuel. The oil must be strained, but that is the only disadvantage. The energy needs of the future must be met with environmentally friendly sources, and WVO can be one of these.

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All About Biodiesel