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 used in
compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel
is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and
aromatics.
Is Biodiesel the same
thing as raw vegetable oil?
No! Biodiesel
is produced from any fat or oil such as soybean oil, through a refinery process
called transesterification.
This process is a reaction of the oil with an alcohol to remove the glycerin,
which is a by-product of biodiesel production. Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced
to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to insure proper performance.
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects
testing requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Biodiesel that meets
ASTM D6751 and is legally registered with the Environmental Protection Agency
is a legal motor fuel for sale and distribution. Raw vegetable oil cannot meet
biodiesel fuel specifications, it is not registered with the EPA, and it is not
a legal motor fuel. For entities seeking
to adopt a definition of biodiesel for purposes such as federal or state statute,
state or national divisions of weights and measures, or for any other purpose,
the official definition consistent with other federal and state laws and Original
Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines is as follows:
Biodiesel is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long
chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to
ASTM D6751 specifications for use in diesel engines. Biodiesel refers to the pure
fuel before blending with diesel fuel. Biodiesel blends are denoted as, "BXX"
with "XX" representing the percentage of biodiesel contained in the
blend (ie: B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel).
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 by volume biodiesel with 80 percent by volume 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 US?
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 US Department of Transportation
(DOT). How much
biodiesel has been sold in the US?
The National Biodiesel Board has released
the following sales volume estimates for the US:
2006 -- 250 million gallons
2005 -- 75 million gallons
2004 -- 25 million gallons
2003 -- 20 million gallons
2002 -- 15 million gallons
2001 -- 5 million gallons
2000 -- 2 million gallons
1999 -- 500,000 gallons
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 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
protocols
required by EPA for certification of fuels or fuel additives in
the US, the overall ozone forming potential of the speciated hydrocarbon emissions
from biodiesel was nearly 50 percent less than that measured for diesel fuel.
Can biodiesel help mitigate “global warming”?
A 1998 biodiesel lifecycle study, jointly sponsored by the US Department of
Energy and the US Department of Agriculture, concluded biodiesel reduces net CO²
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..Is
biodiesel safer than petroleum diesel? Scientific research confirms that biodiesel
exhaust has a less harmful impact on human health than petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel emissions have decreased levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAH) and nitrited PAH compounds that have been identified as potential cancer
causing compounds. Test results indicate PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85
percent, with the exception of benzo(a)anthracene, which was reduced by roughly
50 percent. Targeted nPAH compounds were also reduced dramatically with biodiesel
fuel, with 2-nitrofluorene and 1-nitropyrene reduced by 90 percent, and the rest
of the nPAH compounds reduced to only trace levels.
Does
biodiesel cost more than other alternative fuels?
When reviewing the high costs associated with other alternative fuel systems,
many fleet managers have determined 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 fleets, their spare parts
inventories, their refueling stations and their skilled mechanics. The only thing
that changes is air quality.
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.
Can I use biodiesel in my
existing diesel engine?
Biodiesel
can be operated in any diesel engine with little or no modification 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 storage. The release of deposits
may clog filters initially and precautions should be taken. Ensure that only fuel
meeting the biodiesel specification is used.
Where
can I purchase biodiesel?
Biodiesel
can be made available anywhere in the US. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) maintains
a list of registered fuel marketers. A current list is available on the biodiesel
web site at www.biodiesel.org or by calling the NBB at (800) 841-5849.
Who
can answer my questions about biodiesel?
The NBB maintains the largest library of biodiesel information in the US.
Information can be requested by visiting the biodiesel web site at www.biodiesel.org,
by emailing the NBB at info@nbb.org, or by calling NBB’s toll free number
(800) 841-5849.
For more
information on the general and technical definitions of biodiesel, the distinction
between the two and why those distinctions are important, click
here. | 
