Green Happens Now

roosterbob asked:


On August 10 1893, an engine running on Biodiesel ran for the first time. This is why this day has been declared as “International Biodiesel day”. This model was proposed by Rudolf Diesel. The transesterified oil that was used as source for the first run was Peanut oil. Biodiesel is a liquid produced form materials or biological origin unlike petrodiesel made from fossil fuel. Known previously as American Society for Testing and Materials, the ATSM has certified Biodiesel as confirming to the ATSM D 6751 standards.



The sources of biodiesel can be divided into:

1) Lipid accumulation in plants and algae

2) Hydrocarbons produced in algae or plants.

The lipid sources can be sunflower, linseed, Jatropha, safflower, peanut, rapeseed, olive seeds etc. These lipids have high energy value but are highly viscous. Hence they cannot be easily injected in the engine combustion chambers. This limitation is suggested to be solved by a process called pyrolysis or blending with solvents, emulsification with addition of water or fuels etc, but none proved fit. It was later decided that synthesizing esters of fatty acid was the solution to the viscosity problem. But production from edible oils commands a high price even in developed countries. Hence non-edible oils are the fresh sources for biodiesel. E.g.: Jatropha. These are now cultivated in large areas and researched for biodiesel production.

Certain algae accumulate large (about 60%) of Lipids in their cells when grown in a nutritionally suffucient medium. This property can be exploited to produce large amounts of lipids. Some freshwater algae and plants also store hydrocarbons (made of hydrogen and carbon atoms). E.g. in Botryococcus braunii, 75% of biomass is made of hydrocarbons. Other brown, red and green algae consist of varying amounts of Lipid content. USA, Austria, France, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Malaysia, Italy & other Asian countries have realized the benefits of Biodiesel. These countries are now competing in research on Biodiesel and its production.

The basic chemistry of biodiesel synthesis lies in transesterification process, where an ethyl ester reacts with methanol to form methyl ester and ethanol. Glycerol is a by - product developed in the process which ahs other industrial applications. Methyl esters are favoured for biodiesel production because of the cetane number.

Cetane number is a dimensionless value assigned to indicate the ignition quality of a liquid. This value is high, in case of long unbranched alkanes which are similar long chained compounds. High cetane numbers are related to compound that have low idle noise and easy starting even in cold weather. Though Biodiesel holds much promise for the future, its list of cons includes its properties as being a solvent, able to take up water from the atmosphere etc and sometimes providing reduced power in engines.

Many have patented the process of producing Biodiesel and one such patent is owned by DuPont and Colgate-Palmolove-Peet, and also by CLRI (India). Biodiesel is available nationwide. It can be purchased from the legalized biodiesel distributors, producers and marketers, or even at a public pump throughout any nation. Biodiesel does have its cons, however the pros outweigh them. From the looks of it, biodiesel is going to have a bright future ahead of us.

roosterbob asked:


Presently, biodiesel is one of the trends engulfing the gas guzzling and petrol-pouting consumers. For the former, the reason may lie heavily on the spiking prices posted by the oil industry. If you can save a few dollars by using an additive, why not use it, right? But for the latter, it is more than money saving—it is more on environment saving. Biodiesel is ideal because it is made without any sulfur and is biodegradable, truly a treehugger’s fuel choice, not to mention the huge reduction in general emission.

The Process of Transesterification

This is the process where biodiesel comes into being. The procedure of transesterification literally allows for the extraction of glycerin by adding alcohol and lye to the waste vegetable oil or animal fats collected from various fast food stores and restaurants. Having biodiesel processors will enable you to harness what seems to be slop into an effective fuel alternative.

Note that the oil itself can be obtained from renewable sources like maize, peanuts, soybeans, or any oil-based product for that matter. With this said, if you can extract oil from an item, then most probably you can produce biodiesel out of it. Of course you need the proper biodiesel equipment to actually obtain liquid gold from a pile of sludge.

Varieties & Ratios

Biodiesel comes in a number of mixtures and combinations. This can be blended with different levels of oil or sometimes even used independently. If a biodiesel is mixed with oil, it will be identified as such, or you may look at the pump. It will reflect a letter (B) followed by a number. B, obviously stands for biodiesel then the number attached to it connotes the percentage of the biodiesel used. B20 means twenty percent of the mixture is bio while eighty percent is petro-diesel; same goes with B15 and B60.

If you plan to concoct your own environmentally friendly fuel in large batches, you may opt to buy a biodiesel expansion pack—bigger tanks, thicker hoses, and more bio-fuel for you.



Modification, supply and cost issues

Biodiesel can virtually make any vehicle that feeds on regular diesel run with little or no modification. But for those that require a little tweaking, it is advisable to check with your car manufacturer first before buying any Biodiesel equipment. Although most cars will work fine with biodiesel, it is better to address some warranty concerns.

You can either locate a local biodiesel station or purchase biodiesel processors. Pumping station can easily be found using the internet or let your fingers do the walking on the yellow pages. To be honest, some states have little bio-stations presently in business and the Midwest is paving the way in promoting this eco-friendly alternative. 

The cost attached with purchasing biodiesel is fairly less as opposed to its pure petrol equivalent. It is safe to claim that a gallon of Biodiesel will only cost you $1 if you make it on your own. Now think about the pump price for diesel. No wonder why consumers are starting to shift to biodiesel.

While it is nowhere close to being capable of replacing standard fuels, it is certainly well on its way.

Terry Z. Voster asked:


Biodiesel can extend the life of your engine whether it is in your diesel equipped auto, truck, tractor, bus or highway rig. Biodiesel can increase the longevity of your engine by up to 100 %. Costs are reduced - whether it be for maintenance or vehicle replacement. The engine last longer , breaks down less frequently resulting in longer vehicle life spans , greater reliability and overall less vehicle costs - again be it diesel equipped auto , car, truck ,tractor or highway rig.

How can this be so? The improved lubrication properties of biodiesel over regular vehicle diesel fuel results in increased parts longevity by up to 100 %. As a result commercial vehicles may be used for decades as well as travel millions of miles. Increased engine longevity translates into reduced maintenance costs, longer life spans and overall increases in reliability.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel derived from vegetable oils, animal fats and cooking oils that are processed so that it can be added to diesel fuel as an additive. You cannot just mash up these fats and mix them with your diesel fuel. It is not as if any old Alvero character can make biodiesel in his garage at home. If the biodiesel is not prepared properly in a qualified industrial process - the contaminants of water, glycerols and other trace elements can well clog up your fuel injectors or even an expensive injection pump. Properly done biodiesel is a safe and beneficial fuel additive - now being routinely recommended and touted by major vehicle and diesel engine manufacturers.

Prepared properly in a commercial setting. and bought commercially you can be assured that not only will the biodiesel will be safe for your engine to use - but will even give the benefits of much greater engine life , enhanced reliability and lower maintenance costs overall.

Biodiesel is added to the regular diesel fuel. The percentage added depends on the climate the vehicles or autos will be used in. In warmer climates - such as tropical or Florida type climates - a percentage mixture of up to 20 % can be used. A 20 % biodiesel percentage in a truck driven up North to Edmonton Canada in the cold of winter will thicken up in the cold Alberta winter weather.

In such a cold winter temperature a biodiesel mixture ratio of 5 % would probably be used. To increase the blends of biodiesel used commercial vehicles such as trucks and busses can have fuel heaters installed - either inline fuel heaters of fuel tank heaters.

Why go to all this trouble for biodiesel ? First of all biodiesel is a renewable resource - crops such as soybean oil or canola can be used instead of scarcer and more expensive petroleum oil based products. Using biodiesel doe mean that we use less regular diesel, however the percentages of biodiesel use are relatively small. For example most diesel manufacturers recommend only 5 biodiesel (B5 mixed wit 95 % regular diesel. Of course again in colder climates such as Edmonton Alberta the percentages may be eve less. Biodiesel is also good for reducing emissions and pollution levels of sulphur, carbon monoxide as well as overall tailpipe smog pollutants.

However as with most good things in life there are disadvantages to the use of biodiesel as a vehicle fuel additive. First biodiesel has slightly less energy than regular diesel fuel, so that the larger the percentage content of the Biodisel in the fuel - the less power the engine will have to deliver. Fortunately at the low percentages of biodiesel being used as a fuel additive this is not a major issue.

In addition biodiesel spoils with time. If the biodiesel is too be stored for a long period of time - then additional additives must be added.

As a result of its benefits to reducing petroleum oil use and increasing engine life and reliability biodiesel has a bright and emerging future in our transportation and automotive industries.

The use of biodiesel - an alternative renewable fuel, is fast on its way up.