| 1. What are the sources of vegetable oil as fuel? |
| 2. What is the biodegradability of Biodiesel? |
| 3. How does Biodiesel help lubricity? |
| 4. Will using Biodiesel impact my engine warranty? |
| 5. What are the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards? |
| 6. Who is using Biodiesel? |
| 7. Does Biodiesel work with older engines? |
| 8. Are there any precautions to using Biodiesel? |
| 9. Can Biodiesel be used in any diesel engine? |
| 10. Does Biodiesel need special storage facilities? |
| 11. Is Biodiesel safer than petroleum diesel? |
| 12. What are the emissions reductions of Biodiesel? |
| 13. What is the EPAct (Energy Policy Act)? |
| 14. Can I use Biodiesel in the USA? |
| 15. What is BioWillie? |
| 16. What are the different blends of Biodiesel? |
| 17. Can Biodiesel alleviate global warming? |
| 18. What is Biodiesel? |
| 19. General FAQ |
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What are the sources of vegetable oil as fuel?
Biodiesel can be produced from any triglyceride. The predominant feedstock used in the United States is soybean oil. Other vegetable oils, such as corn, cottonseed, canola (rape seed), flax, sunflower and peanut, also can be used. Animal-derived products such as tallow, choice white grease (lard), poultry fat and yellow grease are also triglycerides.
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What is the biodegradability of Biodiesel?
Biodiesel has desirable degradation attributes which make it the fuel of choice when being environmentally conscious. It is particularly well suited for in ecologically sensitive areas such as inland waterways, unprotected ground excavations, agricultural land and the forest or wildlife environment. In addition, it can be used as a solvent to aid in the cleaning up of fossil diesel fuel spills.
It should also be noted that blending biodiesel with diesel fuel accelerates its biodegradability. For example blends of 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel fuel degrade twice as fast as No. 2 diesel.
Simply stated, neat or pure biodiesel degrades as fast as sugar and a B20 blend will degrade twice as fast as petroleum based diesel fuel.
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How does Biodiesel help lubricity?
By definition, Lubricity is the ability of a liquid to provide hydrodynamic and /or boundary lubrication to prevent wear between moving parts. The lubricating quality of diesel fuel dropped significantly in 1993 when the United States mandated the use of a diesel fuel that had less than 500 ppm sulfur as a method to decrease particulate matter emitted from diesel powered vehicles. With implementation of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (sulfur lowered to 15 ppm) at the end of 2006, lubricity is an even greater concern in diesel engines. Luckily, recent research conducted using even small one or two percent blends of biodiesel mixed with petroleum diesel fuel revealed an increase in lubricity.
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Will using Biodiesel impact my engine warranty?
Manufacturers warrant their products against defects in materials and workmanship. In general, use of a particular fuel should have no effect on the materials and workmanship warranty. Use of biodiesel does not void the warranty, as this is prohibited by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
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What are the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards?
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), was formed over a century ago, when a forward-thinking group of engineers and scientists got together to establish standardization requirements.
The standard ASTM D 6751 outlines specifications for pure biodiesel (B100) for blending with petrodiesel in levels up to 20% by volume.
The approval of this biodiesel standard, and the technical reviews necessary to secure its approval, has provided both the engine community and customers with the information needed to assure trouble free operation with biodiesel blends.
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Who is using Biodiesel?
According to the Department of Energy, the pace of biodiesel use in the domestic market continues to experience exponential growth rising from 2 million gallons per year in 2000 to 250 million gallons per year in 2006 making it the fastest growing alternative fuel in the United States. According to the National Biodiesel Board, production is estimated to reach 2 billion gallons by 2010.
Already, hundreds of U.S. fleets currently run on biodiesel blends and the numbers grow daily. Biodiesel blends are also used increasingly in farming, mining and marine industries as well as in heating oil and electrical generation applications.
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Does Biodiesel work with older engines?
Engines without synthetic seals made from products like Viton will need to have rubber parts in the fuel system replaced before using biodiesel. Most vehicles made after 1994 will have fully synthetic fuel lines and seals and will not be exposed to any issues from using biodiesel. Biodiesel can have a percentage of methanol left in it from the production process which over time may destroy rubber tubing and seals.
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Are there any precautions to using Biodiesel?
Biodiesel has a solvent effect that can release deposits accumulated on tank walls or pipes that have been used in previous diesel fuel storage and precautions should be taken when first switching over to Biodiesel. The cleaning of deposits may initially clog filters and precautions such as filter replacement should be anticipated to prevent these deposits from getting to the engine fuel filters.
Most vehicles made after 1994 will have fully synthetic fuel lines and seals and will not be exposed to any issues from using biodiesel. Older vehicles will need to be monitored.
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Can Biodiesel be used in any diesel engine?
Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine, typically with no modifications to the engine necessary. It performs comparably to diesel, with similar BTU content and higher cetane. It offers excellent lubricity and lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. The efficiency of diesel engines is the same whether using biodiesel, diesel, or biodiesel blends so differences in horsepower, torque or fuel economy are due entirely to volumetric energy content. The energy content of biodiesel is much less variable than that of petrodiesel, and with biodiesel meeting ASTM D 6751 standards the energy content is more dependent upon the feedstocks used than the particular process. Manufacturers warrant their products against defects associated with materials and workmanship and the use of biodiesel in and of itself does not void the warranty as this is prohibited by a federal law known as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
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Does Biodiesel need special storage facilities?
In general, the standard storage and handling techniques, procedures and equipment used for petroleum diesel are 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.
Usually it is recommended not to store biodiesel longer than 6 months or at the most, a year. This recommendation is similar to diesel fuel storage periods.
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Is Biodiesel safer than petroleum diesel?
Scientific research confirms that biodiesel is safer for people to breathe and much safer to handle having 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 targeted PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, with the exception of benzo(a)anthracene, which was reduced by roughly 50 percent.
All of these reductions are due to the fact the biodiesel fuel contains no aromatic compounds.
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What are the emissions reductions of Biodiesel?
Fine particulate emissions have been identified as a major health risk, the smaller the particle, the greater the risk. Motor vehicles powered by diesel engines are a significantly disproportionate contributor of fine particle pollution and oxides of nitrogen in urban areas.
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 in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Recent tests of nitrogen oxides emissions indicate slight reductions or no increase of NOX depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods employed.
The use of biodiesel decreases solid carbon fraction of particulate matter as an increased amount of oxygen present in biodiesel enables a more complete combustion process. Since sulfur is not present in biodiesel, sulfate fraction associated with petroleum based diesel is eliminated. In addition to reducing the overall levels of pollutants and carbon, the compounds that are prevalent in biodiesel and petroleum based diesel fuel exhaust are different.
Biodiesel emissions have decreased the levels of all largest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrated PAH compounds were reduced by 75-85 percent, according to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB).
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What is the EPAct (Energy Policy Act)?
The goal of the EPAct of 2005 is to enhance our nation's energy security. Several parts of the Act were designed to encourage the use of alternative fuels to help reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil.
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Can I use Biodiesel in the USA?
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). Pure biodiesel (B100) has been designated as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Department of Transportation.
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What is BioWillie?
BioWillie is a high-quality premium biodiesel exclusively branded under the legendary performer Willie Nelson's name that is made in America and grown by family farmers. BioWillie is blended with regular diesel fuel at a 20 percent ratio of biodiesel to petroleum diesel, creating a B20 blend.
BioWillie brand biodiesel consistently meets ASTM quality standards ensuring the performance and reliability diesel drivers demand.
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What are the different blends of Biodiesel?
Pure biodiesel is also referred to as 100% or neat biodiesel. There are numerous blends that are currently on the marketed such as B2, B5, B10, B20 etc. which represents the percentage of pure biodiesel blended by volume with petroleum diesel. An example would be B20 blend which consist of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel.
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Can Biodiesel alleviate 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. Biodiesel also reduces tailpipe emissions of particulate matter (soot or black carbon) by 47% which is fast becoming recognized as a major contributor to global warming as well as a critical air pollutant associated with reduced human health, particularly among children and asthmatics.
Soybean oil and biodiesel contain no sulfur and generate no sulfur emissions, a major source of acidification in rain and surface water. The EPA has moved to limit sulfur content in diesel fuels for this reason. This makes biodiesel the best technology currently available for heavy-duty diesel applications to reduce atmospheric carbon.
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What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a biodegradable clean-burning alternative fuel, produced from renewable resources, such as soy beans or used vegetable oils. Pure biodiesel contains no petroleum yet it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create blends, the most commonly used being B20.
BioDiesel is one of the most thoroughly tested alternative fuels on the market. Studies show that it performs similar to conventional petroleum-based fuels while benefiting the environment and human health. Use of biodiesel is an important step in the United State's efforts to lessen our dependence on foreign oil while benefiting our nation's farmers.
It is also the first and only alternative fuel to have completed the rigorous Health Effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. BioDiesel has been proven to perform similarly to diesel in virtually all types of diesel engines and heating equipment.
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General FAQ
Where can I learn more about biofuels and biodiesel?
I'm interested to learn more about ethanol. Where do I find more information?
There is a great deal of information available on the Internet but these are a few sites that you may find helpful:
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)
ACE is the grassroots voice of the U.S. ethanol industry, the nation's largest non-profit association dedicated to the use and production of ethanol. ACE members include ethanol producers, industry suppliers, associations, and individuals who care about renewable fuel.
Ethanol Across America
Ethanol Across America is a unique grassroots information network. It is a partnership between industry and government that is committed to advancing the production and use of renewable fuel ethanol by implementing a comprehensive education and outreach program. The result of this effort will be increased consumer and public support for the policies and programs that sustain ethanol production and use, thereby paving the way for the growth of this home grown fuel that can help our economy, environment and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.
Governor's Ethanol Coalition
In September 1991, Nebraska's governor asked other governors interested in creating a group devoted to the promotion and increased use of ethanol to join him in Lincoln, Nebraska. From that meeting, the Governors' Ethanol Coalition emerged. Membership in the Coalition doubled from nine to 19 states during the first year. Membership as of January 2007 stands at 36 states plus international representatives from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Queensland, Australia, Sweden and Thailand.
BioFuels Journal
Energy Information Administration
U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Kid’s Page
These are activities and information developed by the National Energy Education Development Project in cooperation with the Energy Information Administration. A teacher guide provides extension activities that use this website as a resource. A selection of energy related stories, hands-on activities, and research articles are provided for different age groups.
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