BIODIESELAMERICAS ALTERNATIVE
That by using biodiesel in any diesel engine or oil furnace, you can: • reduce emissions So what
exactly is biodiesel and how is it
impacting us? Click on the headings below to learn more.
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel (fatty acid alkyl esters) is a
cleaner-burning diesel replacement fuel made from natural, renewable,
agricultural resources such as soybeans or rapeseed (canola), or
recycled cooking oil from restaurants.
Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel
operates in combustion-ignition engines, including cars, trucks, heavy
equipment and boats. It can even be used in oil-based home heating
systems.
Hays Oil carries biodiesel in pure form: B100
(100% biodiesel) and can blend B20 (20% biodiesel and 80%
conventional diesel) as needed.
Blends
of up to 20% biodiesel (mixed with petroleum diesel fuels) can
be used in nearly all diesel engines, boilers and generators, and are
compatible with most storage and distribution equipment. These low
level blends (20% and less) don't require any engine modifications and
can provide the same payload capacity and range as diesel.
Pure biodiesel
(B100) has a solvent effect, which may release deposits
accumulated on tank walls and pipes from previous diesel fuel use.
This release of deposits may clog filters initially and filters should
be replaced after the first 24 hours of biodiesel use. There is
no evidence that lower-blend levels such as B20 have caused filters to
plug.
How
is biodiesel better for the environment?
Biodiesel
is the only alternative fuel to have passed the rigorous EPA Tier I
and Tier II health effects testing. That study found that B20 (20%
biodiesel blended with 80% conventional diesel fuel) reduced total
hydrocarbons by up to 30%, carbon monoxide up to 20%, and total
particulate matter up to 15%.
Even using a 2% blend in on-road diesel fuel will
reduce carbon monoxide emissions by more than 25 million pounds
annually, reduce ozone forming hydrocarbon emissions by almost 4
million pounds annually, and reduce acid rain-causing sulfur dioxide
emissions by more than 3 million pounds annually.
Biodiesel
is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades faster than sugar. B100
exhaust contains no benzene, sulfur or formaldehyde, and reduces
greenhouse gases by nearly 80% as compared to petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel
is safer to breathe, and reduces the cancer risk of diesel exhaust by
94% when using B100 and 27% when using B20. Instead
of the stench of diesel exhaust, biodiesel gives off an odor described
as that of french fries, popcorn, or apple pie.
What
are some other benefits to using biodiesel?
Biodiesel
provides an energy balance that helps preserve and protect our
natural resources. For every one unit of energy needed to produce biodiesel,
3.24 units of energy are gained! This is the highest energy balance of
any fuel.
It is domestically
produced from renewable resources, thereby benefiting our nation's
farmers. We reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum by 20%
using B20 biodiesel, and use of as little as 2% biodiesel
each year in the US would extend the fossil diesel supply almost
four-fold for every gallon of diesel replaced by biodiesel.
Superior
lubricity is provided by biodiesel, even at very low-blend
levels. This helps reduce equipment wear and premature breakdown. Additional
economic impacts, such as increased employment, increased level of
economic activity, and corresponding state and local tax revenue, will
also occur.
Were can
I get more information on biodiesel?
Please contact
our office or visit these websites:
National
Biodiesel Board Download
this informative publication, Technical
Assistance Fact Sheet |
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(442k)
from the US Department of Energy's Alternative Fuel Information
Series.