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There is growing interest in the development of biodiesel fuel as more and more positive benefits are found for this alternative fuel source. It's not that it's just a good alternative to our reliance on imported oil but it is also been shown to have a positive impact on our own health and the environment as a whole.
The first positive benefit for biodiesel is the fact that it can be made from renewable resources. It was first created when scientists started doing research into the possibility of using corn and soybean oils in the production of an alternative fuel source. In the process they discovered that just about any kind of vegetable or animal oil that we use to cook with today can be processed into biodiesel fuel. And the best part is it can be oil that has already been used and recycled.
Used vegetable oils along with sewage are all being used to produce biodiesel these days. During the refining of the oil a process is added that extracts all the contaminants from the raw fuel transforming it into an excellent alternative fuel source. Many people who produce biodiesel in small processors in their backyards get most of their raw materials from business such as restaurants that produce large amounts of vegetable oil waste. The benefit of creating a fuel source from waste products is such that the world as a whole is a better place.
One of the unexpected benefits of biodiesel is its ability flush out and clean the internal parts of a diesel engine. Studies have shown that it is able to remove dirt and deposits from fuel injectors and the fuel filter. This keeps the engine running efficiently and cuts down on maintenance costs, particularly when it comes to replacing fuel injectors. In fact studies on engines that were converted from regular diesel have shown that using biodiesel cleans away the deposits and residue the regular fuel leaves behind, leading to better fuel economy.
Because it is also a naturally oxygenated fuel and contains very little sulfur and aromatics it is an extremely clean burning fuel. There is a significant reduction in particulate and carbon monoxide emissions as compared to regular petroleum based diesel fuel.
These are just a few of the reasons biodiesel will benefit our planet and the energy issues we are starting to face. It could well be the alternative fuel answer we need to explore as the world's oil supplies begin to dwindle and the cost of energy continues to increase. There could come a day when we all produce our own fuel right in our backyards and gas pumps go the way of the dinosaur.
Do you want to know more about biodiesel fuel and how it is made? Click here and find out all about biodiesel.
» left by Hannah from Australia (200 days 8 hours ago.)
Andrew, Interesting to read and on the surface, biofuels seem like an excellent way to go. There are concerns, however, especially in large scale use. If we were all driving biofuel vehicles, having all our major transport and deliveries done with biofuel and industry and commerce ran on biofuel, we'd have plenty of energy but still be in serious environmental and survival trouble. There aren't adequate oil sources from businesses to clean up and use for any major scale usage. Corn and vegetable grown to create fuel reduces the arable lands available for food and, especially in the developing world, rain forests and old growth wood is being cut down to grow fuel crops. In the short term, it might help. In the long term, it will be as disastrous as fossil fuel. I'm all for turning waste into fuel. I think that is one area we should look at very seriously, but producing actual product for energy is not really viable. The sources need to be the sun and the wind at this stage, and perhaps hydrogen, as long as we aren't using valuable and scarce water supplies. That's where development and efficiency need to be directed, though. It's good to see that there's another voice here promoting alternative sources of preserving the environment, however.
Cheers, Hannah Respond to this comment
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Thursday, January 24, 2008 View other articles written by Andrew Bicknell(6,675)
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