Use Nature as Fuel
Hybrid Biodiesel
Why Biodiesel?
Biodiesel reduces the amount of pollution emitted from diesel engines.
It causes fewer health risks during storage and handling.
Because it is made from biodegradable material, it has nearly the same toxicity as table salt.
Isn’t as hard on the engine as regular fuel and can cause a longer engine life.
Energy Security and balance: Biodiesel is produced in the US, unlike regular petroleum. In 2014, the US imported 27% of its petroleum. Importing this much could cause trade deficits, supply, disruption and price changes.
- Air quality: B100 (pure biodiesel) reduces CO2 emissions by nearly 75% and B10 (blended biodiesel) reduces CO2 by 15%.
- Specifically, truckers like to use biodiesel because they often travel long distances and emit a large number of CO2. Using biodiesel reduces their carbon emissions.
How it Works and How it's Made
- Biodiesel is natural materials that have been converted into fuel that can be used in place of regular petroleum.
- Biodiesel is not limited to one material like regular petroleum. It can be made from countless different natural oils and plants.
- Biodiesel can be made from all of the following: rapeseed, canola, soybean, corn, palm, coconut, cottonseed, mustard seed, and peanut oils as well as jatropha oil, animal fats, used cooking greases, and algae oil.
- It can be made at home without any special equipment.
Cost
- Although Biodiesel can be more expensive than conventional petroleum, that is a small price to pay for a cleaner environment and reducing CO2 emissions
- The price is going down!
Materials Required
- First, you need a natural ingredient (like vegetable oil).
- You then will need sulfuric acid, methanol, a catalyst (like sodium hydroxide or NaOH), water, blender.
- As long as you can obtain these ingredients, it can be made at home in your kitchen!
Maintenance
There is minimal maintenance with biodiesel. Unlike other alternative energy resources, like wind energy or nuclear energy.
An algae buildup is possible in biodiesel engines. To prevent this from happening, it is important not let your tank get too empty, use algaecides, and change your filter regularly.
Of course, there is always maintenance to the station in which the biodiesel is supplied (gas station), but this is true with regular petroleum as well.
longevity
As long as biodiesel is stored in an airtight container, it will stay good 3-6 months! You could make a sixth month supply of Biodiesel and it will stay good.
Biodiesel is affected by factors multiple factors: microbial contamination, chemical contamination, exposure to light, temperature, exposure to air, the type of feedstock, and the additives.
Sources
- http://www.hybridcars.com/biodiesel-overview/
- https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/biodiesel.shtml
- http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/biodiesel.htm
- http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/biodiesel_benefits.html
- https://www.cardealexpert.com/the-expert-explains/biodiesel-basics-b10-b100
- http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/generalmaintenance/a/biodiesmaint.htm
- http://www.springboardbiodiesel.com/biodiesel-equipment
- http://www.b100wh.com/
Disclaimer
a regular diesel engine must be modified in order to use B100 because it cannot withstand freezing temperatures without a special tank.
- expense- commercial biodiesel tends to be more expensive; finding it can sometimes be difficult- not sold everywhere