Biodiesel is a renewable, oxygenated fuel made from a variety of agricultural resources such as soybeans or rapeseeds.
One of the primary advantages of biodiesel is its renewability. As a renewable, domestic energy source, biodiesel can help reduce dependence on petroleum imports.
Biodiesel is nontoxic, biodegradable, and suitable for sensitive environments. Biodiesel contains no petroleum but can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. Biodiesel refers to the pure alternative fuel before blending with petroleum-based diesel fuel. Biodiesel blends are denoted as "BXX," with "XX" representing the percentage of biodiesel contained in the blend. For example, B20 fuel is a blend of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent conventional diesel. B100 is pure biodiesel.
Biodiesel is the result of a chemical process that separates cold-pressed product into methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable co-product with numerous uses). Raw vegetable oil is not considered biodiesel. Much of the biodiesel produced in the U.S. comes from soybeans. It also can be made from other new and recycled oilseed crops, animal fats, and grease.
To learn more:
|
