All About Biodiesel

How Biodiesel Fuel Can Help Our Economy

2011-12-24T14:44:00.000-06:00

By Kent Hamilton

Biodiesel fuel will not only help our economy by reducing the United States' dependence on foreign oil, but the use of biodiesel fuel will also improve the environment and the health of the whole planet.

Our economy will be aided by the use of biodiesel fuels, and also by their manufacture. To produce biodiesel fuels, we will need large oilseed and grain growing farms, putting farmers back into business. Almost as a side benefit, we'll be able to feed many people with the edible components of these seed and grain "biodiesel" crops.

As is commonly known, most vehicles on the road are run by gasoline and diesel fuels, which are fuels produced from non-renewable fossil fuel, a resource that will eventually run out. But biofuels are a continually renewable resource.

An important factor of biodiesel fuels shows up when we compare them to the combustion of fossil fuels. Oil, coal and natural gas increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere. This carbon dioxide, known as "greenhouse gases" cause global warming.

But the energy from biodiesel fuels does not add to global warming because plants use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to grow, so the carbon dioxide formed during combustion is balanced by the carbon dioxide the plants absorbed during their growth period. Conversely, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide captured billions of years ago, and there is no balance to this released carbon dioxide.

To look at a specific example, making biodiesel from soybeans reduces emissions nearly 80%. Another positive factor is that electricity is generated when producing ethanol from cellulose due to combusting the non-fermentable lignin. The result from these processes and other related processes in making biodiesel fuels is that it is possible to have a greater than 100% greenhouse gas emission reduction.

The oils from the oilseeds and grains are extracted by an oil press or an oil screw press, which places the seeds under great pressure. Oils are expelled due to the compression and the rising temperature generated by the seed oil press procedure. Oil seed presses are one of the first steps in the process of producing biodiesel, which can be used with little modification in diesel engines.

In addition, adding biodiesel to petroleum diesel prolongs the life of engine components as the biodiesel makes the fuel more lubricating. As if all the other advantages of biodiesel are not enough, it is also non-toxic and biodegradable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kent Hamilton - SEO Marketing expert for CroplandBiodiesel.com. Cropland Biodiesel provides farmers a complete system for creating and maintaining biodiesel production directly from their cropland using oil press and oil screw press.

Article Source: How Biodiesel Fuel Can Help Our Economy
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MAKE YOUR OWN BIODIESEL

Making Biodiesel at Home

2011-12-23T19:32:00.000-06:00

By Gerrie Van Niekerk

If you want to start making biodiesel at home you will need a steady supply of waste vegetable oil (WVO) or another biodiesel feedstock, some methanol and catalyst. You will also need some hardware - a complete biodiesel processor & a titration kit.

But before you take one step further and start to make your own biodiesel fuel take some time and think long and hard about it.

Is it a good idea to be making biodiesel at home?

- To make your own biodiesel fuel is very simple but it is hard and dirty work. In fact it is so dirty that it featured on the show "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel. You will probably use WVO to make your biodiesel with and you will be up to your elbows in it. It is not glamorous. If you find the idea of smelly used oil with pieces of fries or chicken floating around in it disgusting then making biodiesel might not be for you...

- There are no shortcuts or half measures - you have to give everything. If you are in a hurry when you do it or if you do half a job then you won't be able to make high quality biodiesel. And if you use anything less then perfect in your car you might have dire consequences. Word if mouth is very powerful marketing tool. If someone has a breakdown because of Homemade biofuel that didn't measure up to standards then it gives biodiesel a undeserved bad reputation.

- It is great to make biodiesel at home, but before you do consider the other people that you share your house with as well as your neighbours. You will be working with potentially dangerous and very caustic chemicals. Safety should be your top priority. The whole setup will also take up quite a lot of space. You need to know if you have enough space for everything before you go out and buy that processor. Your neighbours will probably have no complaints if you give them some free biodiesel every now and then.

If you are not scared off by hard and dirty work and if you talked it over with everyone involved then you are ready to start making your own biodiesel fuel.

Making and using homemade biodiesel has many advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages can all be controlled or completely eliminated by taking some easy steps.

You will feel vindicated as you fill up your car or truck with environmentally friendly diesel fuel that you made yourself.

Welcome to the Biodiesel Energy Revolution!!

Gerrie van Niekerk is the Author of www.Biodiesel-Energy-Revolution.com.

Article Source: Making Biodiesel at Home

All About Biodiesel - Make it at Home

2009-03-12T14:37:00.002-05:00

How Do You Make Biodiesel at Home?
by Kurt Rorbakken

Making Biodiesel - The Supplies

To make a small batch of Biodiesel at home, you only need to comply with few input requirements.

Actual ingredients are needed to produce a Biodiesel product alcohol, lye substance and vegetable oil. You also have to produce some supply requirements for mixing the fuel: empty plastic bottles, duct tape, a mixer and measuring cups. Make sure that any inputs for the production of Biodiesel should not be used for any other purpose and avoid using again for your cooking ingredients.

When supplies are ready, you are ready to begin learning how to make Biodiesel.

Safe Process

The production of Biodiesel is nothing risky. Running the risk of inviting fire or explosion is minimal. In fact, the only major area of concern, as far as safety, getting hurt due to flames. Exercise caution and ensure that the mixture's temperature is under control.

You will go through the easy process of making Biodiesel which involves combining the inputs, allowing it to set, splitting the byproduct and Biodiesel and then purifying the Biodiesel. The entire proccess can last for just a few days or it may take a few weeks. That is dependent on the cleanliness level of your vegetable oil.

Small or Large Scale

The production of a Biodiesel can be in a small scale or a large scale basis. Using Biodiesel kits is way to go if your intention is to produce a a few gallons of Biodiesel at a time. If you depend on your lawnmower or similar equipments then A Biodiesel kit would be perfect. It is easy to use and will not require a considerable level of supplies.

If your mindset is to produce more Biodiesel for the instance for running your automobile, you have to operate a Biodiesel processor. This makes the process super simple, so you can increase your level of production. More production inputs are required to run a processor but you can be more productive in making Biodiesel since the processor can automate some tasks. http://www.easyaffiliatepack.net/solarpanels

About the Author

The author of this article Kurt Rorbakken has been successful with many affiliate programs for years. http://www.easyaffiliatepack.net http://www.easyaffiliatepack.org http://www.123usd.com

Want to learn more about biodiesel and how you can save money by making your own biodiesel? Click Here to learn all about biodiesel.

All About Biodiesel - Kits

2009-02-20T07:58:00.003-06:00

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_Forbes
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All About Biodiesel

All About Biodiesel and the Environment

2009-02-11T06:54:00.001-06:00

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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Hayes
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All About Biodiesel

All About Biodiesel - Production

2009-02-06T07:36:00.002-06:00

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:Transesterification of the oil - Alkali mediated
Transesterification of oil - Acid mediated
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

2009-02-02T07:42:00.003-06:00

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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelly_Wagar http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Wide-Variety-of-Biofuel-Sources&id=1913230

All About Biodiesel

BioDiesel Conversion - Starting a Biodiesel Business

2009-01-27T07:04:00.002-06:00

By Scott Daugherty

BioDiesel conversion can be a very profitable business for young entrepreneurs looking to start a new business or for seasoned entrepreneurs looking to add a new resource to their empire. In the U.S., there are over 30,000,000 gallons of waste vegetable oil that restaurants and fast food joints dispose of annually. Most pay to have their oil disposed of!

A few entrepreneurs that I know have made a lot of profit simply by charging the restaurants to collect their waste oil. They in turn, convert the oil to biodiesel after they charge the business to get the oil. Once they successfully convert the oil, they are able to receive both state and federal tax incentives for producing alternate fuel sources. The federal government pays up to $1.50 per gallon and the state incentives vary from one state to the next.

After this is done, they sell their biodiesel to both individuals and businesses generating another $1-$1.85 per gallon profit. They are producing 2.3 million gallons annually so after all of the overhead involved, they are successfully making $4-5 million in profit every year!

How does one get started in the business? The first step is to find a good commercial biodiesel processor. There are many of these on the market, however, you would want one that includes warranties and instructions to make your first batch of biodiesel.

Business startup costs and facts:

You can get a great commercial biodiesel processor that has an annual capacity of 2.3 million gallons for less than $50,000!

If you intend to collect your own oil, you will need a good truck to haul the oil in. You can get one of these for very little as well if you go to an auction or even check ebay.

Your raw materials needed for the conversion can be purchased cheap as well, however, you will need to buy the chemicals in bulk. This is also rather easy, simply contact the manufacturer and if they won't sell the products to you direct, they will refer you to a distributor who will. You will need both methanol and NaOH or KOH.

You will need a building or structure of sorts to setup the equipment in. Keep in mind that the methanol and NaOH mixture (methoxide) releases a very harmful vapor. It is best to have the area well ventilated. A lot of entrepreneurs set their equipment up in a container trailer to start with. This provides a stable shelter without costing a lot of money and gives the owner a lot of flexibility for moving the business in the future. Is this method recommended? For just a little more, you can purchase a metal building that provides more room and durability for your business. It also provides you the extra room if you decide to expand.

What about the tax incentives that biofuel producers get? Though it is commonly known that the government gives large tax incentives to alternative fuel manufacturers, the process to get approved can be strenuous. You must file paperwork with EPA to get approved as a clean producer. It isn't hard to be approved by the EPA if you dry wash the biodiesel. This essentially means that you have no waste water! Whenever you dry wash a batch of biodiesel, you are using a chemical (purolite) to wash the impurities out. This also allows for production of ASTM standard biodiesel.

It is recommended to purchase additional storage tanks. You can purchase a good tank with a 15,000 gallon capacity for your biodiesel for about $15,000. It is probably a good idea to get a storage tank for your fuel.

Who can you sell the biodiesel to? Check with local gas stations to start with. I recently read about this gentleman who started his business in September 2008. He has already exceeded $1,000,000 in sales in less than 4 months, not including the tax incentives! He talked with a few local trucking businesses and was able to offer the fuel to the trucking companies that save the truckers thousands of dollars weekly. The trucking companies were able to offer more competitive rates to their customers which in turn got them more business. The more business they picked up, the more fuel my client was able to sell. He actually just purchased his second commercial processing kit to keep up with his customer's needs!

BioDiesel is the way of the future. It is a natural resource, burns much cleaner than petroleum based fuel, can be produced for much less, and breaks our dependency of the very pricey crude oil.

If you are looking for a commercial biodiesel processor or just home biodiesel conversion kit, visit http://www.greenfuelconversion.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Daugherty http://EzineArticles.com/?BioDiesel-Conversion---Starting-a-Biodiesel-Business&id=1902675

All About Biodiesel

Important Facts About Biofuel Production

2009-01-23T07:19:00.002-06:00

By: Shelly Wagar

Biomass fuel production in different countries can be a touchy subject, because not all countries agree with the production and use of biofuels. India is very outspoken in their dissent, because of the mistaken belief that biofuel production takes away from the food supply and contributes to global hunger. Biofuels are produced from biomass, which is an organic material such as dead plant particles, manure or municipal solid waste. More than 20 countries so far have biofuel production facilities and programs in place, with others moving forward in this arena as well. Biofuels do not have to be made with corn or soybeans, Germany is using rapeseed, and there are many other sources that do not come from food crops. These fuels are the future of the energy used globally, because soon fossil fuels will be gone. Biofuels are an environmentally friendly alternative that will be used to meet future energy needs.

It is not widely understood by many but biofuel production can help third world economies instead of causing problems. The production of these fuels offers many benefits to these economies. The entire economy of the local area can be improved. Using local employees and materials mean more income and taxes, as well as an improved infrastructure to serve the plant and community. Farmers would be paid regularly for their crops, and the transportation of these materials is much less because they are local. Biofuels and food do not have to compete, and farmers can grow food crops on fertile land and grow biofuel crops on land that is useless for any food farming.

One of the advantages of biofuel production is that biomass fuel can be produced at comparably low cost. Whenever fuel is produced, regardless of the origin of the fuel, cost is always going to be a factor. Just a few years ago biofuels were not widely produced, and this led to a higher cost for these fuels. Ethanol, biodiesel and biogas can all be produced at a low cost financially, and a large benefit ecologically. These fuels offer many benefits and are seeing more widespread use. Ethanol is alcohol based and created through a fermentation process. Biodiesel uses oils and fats from plants and other organic materials in a process called transesterification. Biogas is usually produced from specially designed landfills and waste to energy plants and programs. Using these biofuels can also help to combat a global warming.

In a recent amazing discovery, growing biofuel on trees is also possible. There is a specific tree, called the diesel oil tree, that can be tapped to recover an oil that is remarkably easy to turn into biodiesel. This tree will produce the oil for seventy years, and Australian farmers are growing plantations of them. A fungus, called Gliocladium roseum has been located in trees in the Patagonia rainforest, and it creates carbon chains identical to the ones found in petroleum. Unfortunately, right now these are only produced under very strict and narrow conditions, but the breakthrough has lead to more research. Biodiesel can play a big part in reducing pollution and global warming, and making the earth a better place to live for everyone.

The benefits of bio fuel production to the world are many. Fossil fuels are quickly being depleted and can not be replaced. Alternative sources of energy are numerous, and eco-friendly, but most of these, like solar, wind, and ocean energy, can not be used to power a vehicle. These technologies can be used to provide heat and electricity for homes and buildings though. Biofuels are carbon neutral so they do not speed up global warming, they are an environmentally friendly source of fuel that is renewable, and they are the answer to meeting the fuel needs of the future. Any organic material can be used to make biofuels, and these fuels can make a big difference to the planet. Until recently though, they were not in high demand because of the low cost and availability of fossil fuels.

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All About Biodiesel

Is Biodiesel Good Or Bad For the Environment?

2009-01-18T15:15:00.003-06:00

By Alan Folkard

The Biofuel Debate - What's all the fuss about?

There has been much talk of biofuels and in particular biodiesel being touted as a more carbon friendly alternative to traditional petroleum based fuel...

Because biodiesel is made from renewable resources (unlike fossil fuels) and it has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel
Because it is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar
Because it is made entirely from renewable resources such as soybeans, sunflowers, rapeseed and palm oil as well as waste vegetable oil (used cooking oils) it surely follows biodiesel must be better for the environment...or is it?

Over the last few years through the Kyoto Protocol, governments have discussed the global issue of climate change with a view to setting targets to reduce greenhouse gases. Whilst there has been general agreement that something needs to be done and targets have been set, the United States is the only developed country that has not ratified the treaty and yet it is one of the significant greenhouse gas emitters.

The dilemma seems to be that biodiesel is undoubtedly greener than traditional petroleum based fuel. On the other hand however, as there is no stipulation how and where this fuel is produced, could this 'green' fuel actually be doing more harm to our environment than good?

Let's look at some of the contributing factors to this debate...

Biodiesel - The Good

As an alternative fuel, biodiesel would seem to be a very good alternative to fossil based fuels:-

Mitigating the effects of greenhouse gas emissions
Making best use of the remaining limited supplies of fossil fuels
Reducing air pollution along with the associated health risks to the public
Benefiting domestic economies by reducing the dependence on importing foreign petroleum
Relatively easy to produce in small or large volumes

Biodiesel - The Bad

The main problem with bio-fuels today is the source of the raw materials:-

Biodiesel and ethanol are produced from plant oils and from edible crops meaning competition for basic foodstuffs, food or oil?
Rain forests are being converted to palm oil production (palm oil is a key ingredient of food and other consumables...it can also be used to produce biodiesel)
Current crops cannot keep pace with the bio-materials needed for producing biodiesel

Does this mean if we replace traditional petroleum based diesel with biodiesel we'll compromise our supply of foodstuffs?

Biodiesel - The Future

The Biotech Industry has begun to help with the need to find alternative fuel sources for the future by looking at how to get more from less:-

Increased production of more plants
Improving crop yields - corn, a common biofuel crop in the USA, yields under 200 barrels (per square mile per year) whereas Jatropha for instance can yield over 2,000 barrels
Use of marginal land - look at crops (see below) that can be grown on arid land rather than take away arable farmland needed for essential food production. Using arid land in the poorer regions could provide social and economic benefits for that region

New sources that lessen the threat of environmental impact include:-

Algae - grows quickly, renews quickly but to be a viable option cost effective harvesting remains a challenge
Jatropha - can be grown in arid climates, has a high yield compared with traditional biocrops, has the potential to increase fertility of the land
Camalina - Researchers say the Camelina plant is an excellent source of biofuel; it can be grown in arid land, with less water, fertilizer and pesticides

Biodiesel - Many Complex Issues

Diesel engines were in fact originally designed in the early 1900's to run on biodiesel made from oil seed crops and not to run on petroleum-based diesel. Was it a mistake not to encourage the development and take up of biodiesel back then instead of depending almost solely on petroleum?

Despite agreement in principle that biodiesel has a role to play in helping to reduce emissions unless politicians give clear guidelines about the future of renewable fuels there will continue to be a haphazard take up around the world. Most governments have been proceeding with caution and rightly so but mixed messages from governments around the world have only added to the uncertainty around the use biodiesel fuel. What should be the governments role be in promoting the use of biodiesel?

We live in a world today that has largely grown up in a throw away society without due regard to the consequences of waste. This wasteful attitude has been exacerbated by the lack of proper education in the basic skills of survival. It is only relatively recently that modern day governments have begun to encourage large scale recycling.

The challenge we face is to educate the public about the issues surrounding biofuels and what is good or bad. Honest debate not influenced by individual hidden agenda's is the only way to arrive at political choices that embrace all the issues surrounding the use of biofuel.

So, is biodiesel good or bad for the environment?

One thing is for sure, first generation biofuels once thought to be the alternative fuel source of the future, have come under increased scrutiny recently. It is becoming clear that more information is needed about the potentially destructive elements of first-generation biofuels and the impact they have on the environment.

Environmentalists are concerned that the inadvertent consequence of using biodiesel fuel is unrecoverable damage to the environment. Furthermore, developing a dependence on traditional first generation biocrops may result in food competing with fuel over the use of land. We need to determine what the true balance is between good and bad from an environmental perspective.

Clearly governments need to further embrace the concept of reducing greenhouse gas emissions but should they be more proactive in finding a green source for our fuel as well?

Instead of destroying forests maybe we should look to new more "green" raw materials for producing biofuels. We must embrace the promotion of second and third-generation biofuels in an effort to help solve many of the current problems surrounding the use of first generation biodiesel.

Alan Folkard is an avid devotee and follower of all things [http://allabout-biodiesel.com/]Biodiesel and supports the adoption of biodiesel as an alternative fuel provided a way can be found to balance the good and bad from an environmental perspective.

Learn more about what biodiesel is.

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All About Biodiesel

All About Biodiesel - Homemade Biodiesel

2009-01-17T17:27:00.003-06:00

All About: How to Make Homemade Biodiesel
By Chris John Wright

Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, created from domestic, renewable resources.It contains no petroleum, but can be mixed at any level with petroleum diesel to produce a Biodiesel blend. This alternative fuel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and basically free of sulphur and aromatics.

Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products -- methyl esters and glycerin.

But why Biodiesel I here you cry?

Well, it has numerous advantages that make it the number one choice for the majority of people seeking alternative fuels

Biodiesel comes ready to go with no expensive adjustments to be made to your engine you just pour it straight into your existing diesel engine.

It's completely bio-degradable and non-toxic which makes it more environment friendly it also has far less noxious emissions than regular petrol or diesel engine about 60% less net carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum-based diesel

Your engine will last longer with Biodiesel because as well as being a good lubricant Biodiesel acts as a solvent and cleans out the contaminants and dirt left by fossil diesel in your engine which also provides a lot less engine noise pollution than a regular diesel engine.

Production costs at domestic level work out at approximately 24 cents per litre plus the cost of your oil. If you collect your own from local burger joint, cafes or restaurants (currently they have to pay people to take it away) you could get it for free. If you buy in recycled oil, there are good reputable waste oil dealers throughout the country and your total production costs per litre should not exceed about 70 cents, substantially cheaper than fossil diesel!

Just to sum it up, Biodiesel is cleaner, cheaper and more importantly environment friendly so if you would like to read more info on how to make homemade Biodiesel click on the link below.

Chris Wright is the webmaster of http://www.solar-kits.net a website that specialises in Solar Kits and also gives alternate energy advice to the public.

Did you find those tips on Biodiesel useful? You can learn a lot more about how making homemade biodiesel can help you here. http://www.solar-kits.net/alternative-energy/how-to-make-homemade-biodiesel

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_John_Wright http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Make-Homemade-Biodiesel&id=1843232

All About Biodiesel