FAQ

What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a form of clean, alternative fuel, composed of long-chain alkyl esters, that is made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases.  It contains no petroleum, is biodegradable, nontoxic, and simple to use.

How is it made?

Biodiesel is made in a process called transesterification.  Lipids, known as triglycerides, present in the crude oil feedstock mix with an alcohol (usually methanol) in the presence of a base catalyst (usually sodium hydroxide).  During this reaction the methoxide solution breaks the glyceride chains, replacing them with alcohol and producing glycerol and methyl esters (biodiesel) as by-products.  The crude biodiesel is then purified to remove glycerol and excess catalyst.  A drying process removes unwanted water in the fuel. 

How is it used?... Can I power my car with biodiesel?

Yes!  Biodiesel can be used as a pure fuel in almost all diesel engines.  It's a better lubricator than petro-diesel and tends to be a good cleaner for fuel systems.  Biodiesel however is not compatible with ordinary rubber.  Most vehicle manufacturers approve blends up to B5, but it would be best to check the owner's manual to determine  correct blends for specific vehicles.  Other applications of biodiesel are found in railway transportation, aircraft use, boilers, and generators.

What impact does it have on the environment?

Biodiesel is nontoxic, biodegradable, and cleaner burning compared to almost all other fuels.  When used in a conventional diesel engine, biodiesel produces no additional carbon dioxide emissions.  A study done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed that biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 78%, compared to petroleum diesel.

Is it cost effective?

Biodiesel on average costs about $1.03 per gallon in the United States.  In retrospect, manufacturing biodiesel is not greatly affected by economies of scale.  Producers should attempt to find waste vegetable oil to supply fuel requirements at little to no cost.

How is it evaluated? 

To be considered biodiesel, the biofuel must meet the specifications set forth by American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM D6751-12: Standard Specifications for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels.  This document can be downloaded from the website: http://enterprise.astm.org/filtrexx40.cgi?+REDLINE_PAGES/D6751.htm.

Where can I purchase biodiesel?

Biodiesel can be purchased directly from local producers, on the internet, or in some retail store locations throughout the U.S.