5 Things About Biodiesel You Probably Didn’t Know

With Earth Day fast approaching, it is a perfect time to revisit the positive impact biodiesel fuel has on both the environment and our economy. We touched on some of these benefits in a previous blog post called Environmentally Friendly, Biodiesel Fuel.  In an effort to help demystify what biodiesel is and what it is made of, we referenced Biodiesel.org for their illuminating research and information. Here’s an exerpt:

Biodiesel is America’s advanced biofuel. It is a drop-in diesel alternative, made from domestic, renewable resources such as plant oils, animal fats, used cooking oil and even new sources such as algae. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but can be blended with petroleum diesel. Biodiesel blends can be used in compression ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel cuts carbon significantly, and is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Biodiesel is not: Biodiesel is not raw vegetable oil. Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to ensure proper performance. Only biodiesel that meets the spec and is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency is a legal motor fuel. Biodiesel is not the same as renewable diesel. While both fuels can be made from similar feedstocks, they are made using different production processes and the resultant fuels have different properties. Biodiesel is not the same as ethanol. Ethanol is produced primarily from fermentation of corn and cellulosic materials and is designed for use only in gasoline engines. Biodiesel is made from the oil and fat by-products of producing high quality proteins which help feed the world, and is a high BTU content fuel designed for use only in diesel engines. 

Five surprising things about biodiesel fuel you probably didn’t know:

1) Domestically produced, renewable fuel from agricultural oils like soybeans (accounting for most of the country’s biodiesel production), used vegetable oil, animal fats, and recycled restaurant grease.

2) Responsible for more than 64,000 U.S. jobs and $11.2 billion in economic benefit – helping the environment while fueling the economy.

3) Cleaner burning fuel than petroleum significantly reduces lifecycle of carbon emissions.

Farmers are becoming a strong customer base for biodiesel. Biodiesel provides an opportunity for farmers to create demand for the crops they grow through on-farm use. Farmers’ commitment to biodiesel is reflected in their $25 million investment in the product through checkoff dollars.

4) Has higher viscosity than conventional diesel fuel, which means it combusts easier and lubricates the system better. 

5) Biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions, because the carbon dioxide released during combustion is offset by the carbon dioxide isolating while growing the feedstocks used to produce the fuel. 

Biodiesel is available in all 50 states. To find a location, visit this Biodiesel.org page.

With all these benefits and the advancements made in biodiesel fuel production, there is a bright future in becoming domestically independent for fuel! Become a part of the future by recycling your cooking oil.  Check out AutoPilot Service from Smart Alternative Fuels, is just that… smart. We are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for our partners providing premium cooking oil collection and grease trap maintenance services. We respond quickly and our reliable service takes the stress out of a messy job for restaurants and the like. Questions? Shoot us a CALL any time.