Ballassi.Holder.spring.wiki.2011

BIODIESEL FROM CANOLA, SOY BEANS, OR RAPESEED OIL Our problem: Greenhouse effect and Carbon dioxide The greenhouse effect refers to circumstances where the short wavelengths of visible light from the sun pass through a transparent medium and are absorbed, but the longer wavelengths of the infrared re-radiation from the heated objects are unable to pass through that medium. The trapping of the long wavelength radiation leads to more heating and a higher resultant temperature. Besides the heating of an automobile by sunlight through the windshield and the namesake example of heating the greenhouse by sunlight passing through sealed, transparent windows, the greenhouse effect has been widely used to describe the trapping of excess heat by the rising concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide strongly absorbs infrared and does not allow as much of it to escape into space.  Global warming, a recent warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere, is believed to be the result of a strengthening of the greenhouse effect mostly due to human-produced increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases.

The solution: Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources as vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. It contains no petroleum, therefore; it is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics; producing less air pollutants than petroleum-based diesel. It can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel can be used in its pure form (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel. Common blends include B2 (2% biodiesel), B5, and B20. B2 and B5 can be used safely in most diesel engines.  Blends Blends of biodiesel and conventional hydrocarbon-based diesel are products most commonly distributed for use in the retail diesel fuel marketplace. Much of the world uses a system known as the "B" factor to state the amount of biodiesel in any fuel mix:  Approved by law...  Biodiesel is not the same thing as raw vegetable oil! Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry specifications in order to insure proper performance. Biodiesel meets all the requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Amendments and is legally registered with the Environmental Protection Agency is a legal motor fuel for sale and distribution. Raw vegetable oil cannot meet biodiesel fuel specifications, it is not registered with the EPA, and it is not a legal motor fuel. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The official definition consistent with other federal and state laws and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines is as follows: //<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Biodiesel is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to ASTM D6751 specifications for use in diesel engines. Biodiesel refers to the pure fuel before blending with diesel fuel. Biodiesel blends are denoted as, "BXX" with "XX" representing the percentage of biodiesel contained in the blend (ie: B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel).” //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">100% biodiesel is referred to as B100, while
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel is labeled B20
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">5% biodiesel, 95% petrodiesel is labeled B5
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">2% biodiesel, 98% petrodiesel is labeled B2

<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">How is Biodiesel produced?

<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification. Canola, soy beans, or rapeseed oil is reacted with methanol or ethanol and a catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide, to produce a methyl ester (chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin, which can be used for other purposes such as the making of soap.

<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The following video shows the simple process with which biodiesel is prepared. media type="youtube" key="zhw4-IdtIjM" height="349" width="560" align="center"

<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">How does Biodiesel work? <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Biodiesel only works in vehicles with diesel engines, where it can work as both a mixture of diesel and biodiesel or as pure biodiesel. Unlike running a vehicle on pure vegetable oil, biodiesel requires no engine conversion and it can easily switch back to diesel without having to make any changes to his vehicle. Just like fossil fuels, biofuels are burned in internal combustion, jet or even steam engines to provide power to move everything from pistons to turbines. Existing diesel engines, for example, work more efficiently on biodiesel than on the refined diesel fuel that has become so expensive. Engines work exactly the way on both fuels, only more efficiently on the biodiesel. Biodiesel is a clean fuel, and it also has a degreaser property, meaning that it will actually clean your vehicle's fuel system.

<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">Benefits of Biodiesel

<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel offers numerous environmental, economic, and health benefits. Biodiesel reduces in a great amount the air pollution, reducing the greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. According to Lifecycle analyses of biodiesel production, distribution and use show that biodiesel produces 78% less CO2 than petroleum diesel fuel. <span style="color: lime; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Environmental benefits <span style="color: lime; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Economic benefits <span style="color: lime; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Health benefits
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The hydrocarbon emissions formed by biodiesel are 67% lowers than the emission of diesel fuel.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The sulfur emission are completely eliminated
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nitrogen Oxides emissions from biodiesel increase or decrease depending on the engine family and testing procedures. Nitrogen Oxides emissions from pure (100%) biodiesel increase on average by 10 percent. However, biodiesel’s lack of sulfur allows the use of NOx control technologies that cannot be used with conventional diesel.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) from biodiesel are on average 48% lower than the carbon monoxide emissions from diesel.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel has a positive energy balance, producing 3.2 units of energy for every unit of energy used in production. In contrast, diesel fuel produces on .89 units of energy for every unit of energy used in production.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The use of domestic, renewable sources of energy reduces our dependence on imported oil, thereby improving our nation's energy security.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The domestic biodiesel industry provides jobs and economic development.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel is easy to use and can be used in existing diesel vehicles and engines.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Production of useful by-products, such as cattle feed or glycerin.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Breathing particulate has been shown to be a human health hazard. The exhaust emissions of particulate matter from biodiesel are about 47 percent lower than overall particulate matter emissions from diesel.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel emissions show decreased levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nPAH), which have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds. With biodiesel, PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, and nPAH compounds were also reduced by 90 percent.

<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The graph above shows UK figures for the Carbon Intensity of Biodiesels and fossil fuels. This graph assumes that all biodiesels are burnt in their country of origin. It also assumes that the diesel is produced from pre-existing croplands rather than by changing land use. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We can see in this graph that the amount of CO2 released from biodiesel is a lower than the amount released by other regular fuels. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 27px;">**The National Biodiesel Board, national trade association representing the biodiesel industry, has calculator that measures the reduction of CO2 emissions due the use of biodiesel. The information in this model provides average changes in the pounds of emissions reductions based off of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sources. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The calculation is based on the amount of fuel used (in pounds) and the percentage of biodiesel in blend. <span style="color: red; display: block; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">To get a new calculation, follow this link: []

<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Biodiesel is better, but does it has the same effect? <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel is used for its capacity to lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to those of fossil fuels, but an aspect that is not being taking in consideration is the effects of greenhouse gas emissions while it is being produced, or the effects in land use. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Carbon dioxide is the major of the greenhouse gases. Although the burning of biodiesel produces carbon dioxide emissions similar to those from ordinary fossil fuels, the plant feedstock used in the production absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere when it grows through a process known as photosynthesis. After the biomass is converted into biodiesel and burnt as fuel the energy and carbon is released again. Some of that energy can be used to power an engine while the carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When considering the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions it is therefore important to consider the whole production process and what indirect effects such production might cause. The effect on carbon dioxide emissions is highly dependent on production methods and the type of feedstock used. Calculating the carbon intensity of biofuels is a complex and inexact process, and is highly dependent on the assumptions made in the calculation. A calculation usually includes:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Emissions from growing the feedstock (e.g. Petrochemicals used in fertilizers)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Emissions from transporting the feedstock to the factory
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Emissions from processing the feedstock into biodiesel
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Emissions from the change in land use of the area where the fuel feedstock is grown.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Emissions from transportation of the biodiesel from the factory to its point of use
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The efficiency of the biodiesel compared with standard diesel
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The amount of Carbon Dioxide produced at the tail pipe. (Biodiesel can produce 4.7% more)

<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 27px;">If land use change is not considered and assuming today's production methods, biodiesel from rapeseed and sunflower oil produce 45%-65% lower greenhouse gas emissions than diesel. However, there is ongoing research to improve the efficiency of the production process with the aim of lower the greenhouse gas emissions during the production of biodiesel.

<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">As long as the feedstock is grown on existing cropland, land use change has little or no effect on greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is concern that increased feedstock production directly affects the rate of deforestation. Such clear-cutting cause carbon stored in the forest, soil and peat layers to be released. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation is so large that the benefits from lower emissions (caused by biodiesel use alone) would be negligible for hundreds of years.

<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The graph shows the carbon emission produced per stage in the production processes of soy biodiesel grown in the U.S. and burnt in the U.K.  <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We can see from this graph that the amount of CO2 emission during production is higher than the total amount of CO2 released. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 27px;">**Figures according to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation of the U.K.

<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Not enough…

<span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Although, biodiesel is perfect to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, the amount of feedstock needed to produce a considerable amount of biodiesel is a high. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 27px;">From the video showed before, the results found that only 25% of the material refined is actually the biodiesel fuel, the other 75% gets turned into soap. This is why it is not widely used; most of the material that gets processed is a by-product of the process. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 27px;">Only 0.2% of the energy used in the world comes from biodiesels.

<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">No matter what, Biodiesel helps

<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 32px;">Why should we use biodiesel? <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel is the first and only alternative fuel to have a complete evaluation of emission results and potential health effects submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act Section 211(b). These programs include the most rigorous emissions testing protocols ever required by EPA for certification of fuels or fuel additives. The data gathered complete the most thorough inventory of the environmental and human health effects attributes that current technology will allow. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EPA has surveyed the large body of biodiesel emissions studies and averaged the Health Effects testing results with other major studies. The results are seen in the table below. <span style="color: red; display: block; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Biodiesel is being used… <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Biodiesel can be used in virtually any diesel engine without modification. The most commonly used form of biodiesel is a 20% blend of biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel, known as B20. This has become a common practice as a balancing of benefits with costs, cold weather and solvency considerations associated with biodiesel. Biodiesel provides similar horsepower and fuel economy as petroleum diesel with superior lubricity to reduce wear and tear on the engine. [|http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/showall.] [|aspx] <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">There are a lot of communities making a green change; the following link shows a video of the efforts being made in Reynolds, Indiana. []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Many municipal fleets, including California and city buses in St. Louis, Missouri, run at least partially on biodiesel fuel.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Some national parks use it for their trucks and buses, and some government fleets use it, as an example, the marine fleets in Hawaii.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In California it is also being used by some organic farmers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Agricultural Research Center of the United States Department of Agriculture uses a biodiesel and heating oil mixture to heat its buildings, and uses biodiesel mixed with petroleum diesel in its farm fleet and tour bus.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">There are public fueling stations for biodiesel in San Francisco, California and one in Sparks, Nevada. The following link shows a list of service stations selling biodiesel:

<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Making an improvement <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Although biofuels do not provide a complete answer to the energy problem, they are a good start to alternate energy sources. Today's biofuels are being used just like fossil fuels, but the biofuels of the future will need to be "carbon neutral" in order to be efficient, meaning that the finished fuel must provide as much energy as it takes to produce it. Either we must invent new technologies to use the fuel or design new refining processes before biofuels become a practical replacement for fossil fuels. <span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">For us the best solution to improve the biodiesel technology is to find a way to increase the amount of biodiesel produced from certain amount, and reduce the amount of hydrocarbons released during the production of the biodiesel. If we succeed in doing this, some day we might get to a point in which we will completely eliminated the emissions of hydrocarbons and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

<span style="color: #ff0066; display: block; font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB',sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: center;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">How Does Biodiesel Work? | eHow.com - [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] Laura Reynolds, <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">How Does Biodiesel Work? | eHow.com - []