The Very Basics of Biodiesel
What is Biodiesel?
From a Technical standpoint:
Biodiesel is a diesel cycle fuel manufactured from vegetable oils, recycled grease, and/or animal fats. The general chemical designation for biodiesel is ‘Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters.’ Biodiesel and biodiesel blends can be used in CI engines in diesel-powered cars, trucks, tractors, boats, shipping equipment, irrigation systems, mining equipment, electrical generators, and most applications where diesel is typically used.
From a Practical standpoint:
Biodiesel works in all diesel engine. It's made from natural oils rather than petroleum. Biodiesel performs similarly to diesel fuel, and can be used with no modifications to the diesel engine or the vehicle.
Bio Basics
Titration
- Titration is a common laboratory method of quantitative/chemical analysis that can be used to determine the concentration of a known reactant. -Wikipedia Titration Titration is an indirect test for free fatty acids (FFA) in waste vegetable oil. With typical restaurant waste oil (less than 5% FFA), there's no need to perform titration with the BioPro's.
Free Fatty Acid (FFA)
- Fatty acids can be bound or attached to other molecules, such as triglycerides or phospholipids. When they're not attached to other molecules, they're known as "free" fatty acids. -Wikipedia Free Fatty Acid
Waste Vegetable oil
- Many vegetable oils have similar fuel properties to diesel fuel, except for higher viscosity and lower oxidative stability. If these differences can be overcome, vegetable oil may substitute for #2 Diesel fuel, most significantly as engine fuel or home heating oil. -Wikipedia Waste Vegetable oil
Biodiesel Facts And Myths
Facts:
- Biodiesel is recognized by every industry and government entity, including the EPA and the US Department of Transportation.
- Biodiesel is made by modifying the chemical structure of natural vegetable and animal oils.
- Biodiesel burns significantly cleaner then diesel fuel and is nearly carbon neutral and biodiesel is non-toxic
- Biodiesel has much higher lubricity than diesel fuel resulting in longer engine life and cleaner fuel injection components.
Myths:
- "Biodiesel is recycled fryer oil." - Biodiesel can be made from any vegetable or animal oil but it has been chemically processed into a motor fuel.
- "Biodiesel requires a conversion." -This confusion is a result of the old practice of burning straight vegetable oil in older diesel engines, which does require a vehicle conversion. Biodiesel does not require a conversion and can be mixed in any proportion with petroleum diesel fuel.
- "Biodiesel is expensive." -Buying biodiesel at a fuel station costs approximately $5 per gallon (July 25, 2008) - roughly the same as the price of petroleum diesel fuel. But biodiesel can be produced by an individual using a BioPro processor, often for less than $1.25 per gallon!
- "Biodiesel will void my warranty." -Many companies warrant their diesel engines for use with biodiesel only to a point, such as a 20% blend. But they are prohibited by the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act from voiding a warranty because a customer exceeds their stipulations, unless the higher blend of biodiesel were to directly cause the failure. By the same logic they can also void a warranty if a bad tank of petroleum diesel fuel directly causes a failure.
- "Biodiesel is a perfect fuel."- Biodiesel offers huge advantages but, like any fuel, has some limitations. it is affected by cold weather to a greater extent than diesel fuel #2, and it typically delivers 2-3% lower fuel milage.
