Biodiesel is a newly popularized technology that skirts around our
reliance on fossil fuel. Rather than being produced from
non-renewable resources, it’s based on common vegetable
or animal oils. Biodiesel is still a pollutant, but its
negative effects on the environment are fewer than those
of generic diesel fuel.
Biodiesel can be distilled at home with three basic ingredients:
oil, methanol and lye. It’s a caustic, toxic mix, but it
produces two benign products at the end: biodiesel,
which is non-toxic and biodegradable; and glycerin,
which is a common soap base. If you’re interested in
brewing a batch of your own, Christina and Scott Gable
offer a thorough step-by-step guide at www.about.com.
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES
Fossil fuels dump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when we
burn them in our cars, but they also contribute to our
global pollution rate during the processes of
extraction, distillation and distribution. Biodiesel is
also a pollutant, but it has several redeeming factors.
Biodiesel emits fewer greenhouse gases and harmful particles when
it burns, and it produces no dangerous byproducts during
its distillation. Furthermore, since vegetable-based
biodiesel is based on plant life, and plants turn carbon
dioxide into oxygen, the main ingredient in biodiesel
actually helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in
the air. This helps to offset the effect of its
emissions, bringing it closer to being a
“carbon-neutral” fuel.
COMMERCIAL USE
Fuel companies have jumped onto the biodiesel bandwagon, offering
blends of bio- and regular diesel at some pumps.
Biodiesel is marked by a B, followed by the percentage
of biodiesel in the fuel mix. B5 is five percent
biodiesel; B20 is 20 percent biodiesel. Although cars
can theoretically run on 100 percent biodiesel, today
only these two blends are offered.
Commercial companies have hesitated to offer higher percentages of
biodiesel in their mixes because biodiesel tends to be
more caustic than generic diesel. Non-synthetic rubber
parts have been known to corrode under exposure from
biodiesel. It also tends to scour the inside of the
engine — not to the point of damaging the car, but it
will clean off any buildup inside the engine. While this
is good in the long run, it can cause temporary problems
with clogging.
Biodiesel also tends to gel in cold weather, so mixing it with
generic diesel and adding anti-gelling agents is
imperative during the winter.
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