Bio Fuel Info
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a renewable alternative fuel based upon plant oils, recycled cooking greases or oils, and animal fats. Because plants produce oils from sunlight and air, these oils are renewable.
On a molecular level, plant oils and animal fats are too large to bum efficiently in a modem diesel engine. This is why vegetable oils and animal fats are combined with alcohol and a catalyst to create a reaction called transesterification. This process breaks down the oil molecules into chains of smaller, lighter molecules. This resulting product is called biodiesel (Mono Alkyl Esters).
To be certified as a fuel, biodiesel must be produced to meet national standards. The most generally accepted standards are the American ASTM 6751 and Europe’s EN14214. To be legally recognised and registered as a fuel in Australia, all biodiesel must meet or exceed these standards.
Biodiesel has a favourable energy balance ratio. An energy balance ratio compares the energy required to grow or extract, process and distribute a fuel as compared to the energy stored in that fuel. Biodiesel contains 2.5 to 3.5 units of energy for every unit of fossil energy input in its production. This value includes energy used in diesel farm equipment and transportation equipment (trucks, locomotives), fossil fuels used to produce fertilizers, pesticides, steam, and electricity, and methanol used in the manufacturing process of the biodiesel itself.
When biodiesel displaces petroleum, it significantly reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Biodiesel tailpipe emissions are substantially cleaner and safer than fossil diesel and petrol powered vehicle emissions. Burning biodiesel emits no sulfur dioxide, 78% less carbon dioxide and as much as 50% fewer smog producing compounds than conventional diesel and petrol. The U.S. EPA’s study of biodiesel emissions confirmed a 47% reduction in particulates and a 48% reduction in carbon monoxide when compared to fossil diesel emissions.
About Pro Green Biodiesel Biodiesel use eliminates or reduces the levels of harmful compounds contained in diesel exhaust. Consequently. biodiesel use can eliminate or reduce illness associated with short and long term exposure to diesel fumes, such as nausea, headaches. respiratory problems, asthma and even cancer: Research has shown that burning 100% biodiesel reduces the risk of cancer linked to diesel vehicle emissions as much as 94%. Specifically biodiesel use dramatically limits exposure to carcinogenic hydrocarbons, respiratory irritants such as particulate matter and poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide.
Biodiesel is biodegradable and nontoxic. It contains no hazardous materials. In fact B1OD is as biodegradable as dextrose (sugar) and less toxic than table salt. Several studies have shown biodiesel to biodegrade up to four times faster in water than petroleum diesel fuel with up to 98% biodegrading in three weeks. The reduced emissions, pleasant odour, biodegradability, safety of biodiesel make it well suited for use in marine environments and sensitive ecosystems.
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