Burgess-Chrost.Baker.2010



There are two major concerns at hand: shortage of drinkable water and a depleting supply of fossil fuels.
 * What is the problem at hand? **

The driving force is the constant demand of water for the survival of the world's population and the driving force behind the need for fossil fuels is convienence.
 * What is the driving force of the problem? **


 * What are people currently doing or not doing to solve the problem? **
 * Car and airplane manufacturer's are trying to make more fuel efficient products
 * People are driving more fuel efficient cars/using public transportation to save money and fuel.

**Topic of Choice:** Biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil




 * Explain How It Works: **

Here's a quick introduction on how waste vegetable oil biodiesel is made:

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Reasons Why Its Efficient: (compared to perto-diesel that companies sell you)
 * Diesel motors will run better and longer on this homemade fuel
 * Its cleaner
 * Better for the environment
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Better for your health

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Biodiesel is made from animal fats and oils, also called triglycerides. Triglycerides are long chain fatty acid molecules that are joined by glycerine molecules. The biodiesel process uses a catalyst to break off glycerine molecules and combines three fatty acid chains with methanol. This creates mono-alkyl esters, otherwise known as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), aka biodiesels. You can also make biodiesel from used cooking oil. This is cheap and you are recycling something that is troublesome when it ends up in landfills or sewers. Biodiesel from vegetable oil can be used just like standard diesel. Anybody can make biodiesel. Its so easy you can even make it in your kitchen! The chemical reaction for making biodiesel is called transesterification.




 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Determine the amount of CO2 it produces or inhibits: **

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">When biodiesel is burned, it does not create an excess amount of CO2 in the atmosphere because burning this fuel is part of the natural cycle. Biodiesel is a carbon neutral product and doesn't increase global warming. This type of fuel does produce some CO2, but when it does, it is recycled back into the atmosphere where plants absorb.




 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Determine the amount of water it can generate or purify: **

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Biodiesel does not generate any water. The only by-product of biodiesel is something called Glycerol. This is a mixture of glycerin, impurities (such as food), any remaining alcohol and the remaining catalyst. Glycerin is a common product that you can find in soaps and degreasers.


 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The highlights of biodiesel: **


 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It does not create more carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It is a better lubricant than petrodiesel.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Reduces respiratory problems by creating less particulates in the air when it is burned.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It is easier to ignite, which means more efficient combustion.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Biodegradable
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It can run in any unmodified diesel engine.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It has a high cetane number.
 * __<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It is a renewable source!!! __
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Its safe to handle and transport.


 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">How the critics dicuss biodiesel: **
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It can degrade the rubber hoses that are used on old engines.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">More expensive to produce.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It requires a cooler climate to be heated in because it biodiesel will gel faster than a petrodiesel.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Poor oxidation qualities.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Causes microbial growth, which can ruin an engine.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">As the need increases for biofuel, there will be a crisis of food vs. fuel.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It can cause carbon deposits in an engine.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Causes an increase of nitrous oxide.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Biodiesel is one of the fastest growing renewable energies right now. In 2008, biofuels made up about 1.8% of the world's supply.Also in 2008, the United States alone produced 16.251 million barrels of biodiesel. From 2004 to 2008, we increased product by 26 times! In 2010, there's an estimated 12 billion gallons of biodiesel that is available/used.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">How much of the world's fuel/energy supply does biodiesel take up? **

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Quotes from scientists and policy makers:

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">"Overall, we continue to be delayed on a week-by-week and month-by-month basis because of political uncertainty" -Daniel Oh, President of Renewable Energy Corp., talking about using biodiesel

"That court battle, plus the lapse of the $1-a-gallon tax credit, is creating uncertainty about how much biodiesel the refiners will need and how much it will cost them. While biodiesel producers await a court decision on the usage mandate, they are lobbying the lame-duck Congress to revive the biodiesel subsidy next month as part of a tax bill extending other credits and tax cuts." "We really do expect a resurgence in biodiesel demand next year. If we get the tax credit reinstated, it will be robust." -Monty Shaw, Executive Director of Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, on biodiesel “Now, I happen to believe that we should pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill. It will make clean energy the profitable kind of energy, and the decision by other nations to do this is already giving their businesses a leg up on developing clean energy jobs and technologies. But even if you disagree on the threat posed by climate change, investing in clean energy jobs and businesses is still the right thing to do for our economy. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil is still the right thing to do for our security. We can’t afford to spin our wheels while the rest of the world speeds ahead.” -President Obama

"I think this is going to be the driver of our economy over the long term. And that's why we put in record amounts of money for solar and wind and biodiesel and all the other alternative clean energy sources that are out there." -President Obama


 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">How can biodiesels help us? **


 * By decreasing global warming
 * Sulfur-free
 * They aren't carcinogenic
 * We don't need to convert diesel engines for the use of biodiesel
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">They don't hurt the environment
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">A decrease in petroleum use