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Biodiesel Fuel

The main benefit derived from using Biodiesel comes from the reduction in emissions generated when using this biodegradable, low toxicity fuel. Biodiesel's most noted attribute highlighted by consumers is the similar operating performance to conventional diesel fuel. Blending biodiesel with petroleum diesel in small percentages of around 5%, will actually improve the engines performance and with the right additives, increase mileage.

The beauty of biodiesel as an alternative, renewable fuel is that the standard storage and handling procedures used for petroleum diesel can also be used for biodiesel. There is no problem mixing biodiesel with diesel fuel in storage tanks or in vehicles.
Biodiesel has desirable degradation attributes which make it the fuel of choice for environmentally conscious users. Studies at the University of Idaho, compared the biodegradation of biodiesel in an aqueous solution to diesel fuel and dextrose (sugar). Normal petroleum based diesel fuel was only about 40% degraded after the same 28 day test period.

Blending biodiesel with regular petroleum based diesel fuel accelerates the blended fuel's overall biodegradability. For example, blends of 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel fuel (B20) degraded twice as fast as petroleum diesel. 100% pure biodiesel degrades as fast as sugar and a 20% blend will degrade twice as fast as petroleum based diesel fuel.

Biodiesel and even petroleum diesel that has been blended with biodiesel is safer to store, handle and use than conventional diesel fuel. Biodiesel is so safe to handle that you can throw a lighted match into a bucket of biodiesel and the fuel will not catch fire. Biodiesel has a flash point of 150°C (300°F), which is much higher than the flash point of petroleum based diesel fuel which is ± 70°C (150°F). Biodiesel is a fantastic lubricity additive and biodiesel is going to become even more important in the nations fuel mix as the US moves towards using Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel. Testing at labs such as Southwest Research Institute, Standyne Automotive and Engineering Testing Services have demonstrated that biodiesel provides significant lubricity improvement over petroleum diesel fuel, even at blend levels as low  as 1%.

When the sulfur present in diesel fuel is combusted by the engine, it results in the black smoke and high emission levels in the exhaust plume. The sulfur level of petroleum based diesel fuel that is used for on-road purposes is limited to 0.05% by weight. This limit was mandated in 1993 as a method to decrease particulate matter emitted from diesel powered vehicles.

The use of biodiesel decreases the solid carbon fraction of particulate matter as the increased amount of oxygen present in biodiesel enables a more complete combustion process. Biodiesel eliminates the sulfate fraction problem associated with petroleum based diesel as there is no sulfur in biodiesel, sulphur dioxide is the major component of acid rain. In addition to reducing the overall levels of pollutants and carbon, the compounds that are prevalent in biodiesel and petroleum based diesel fuel exhaust are different. Biodiesel emissions have decreased the levels of all largest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrated PAH compounds were reduced by 75-85%.

Vehicles that run on biodiesel emit less sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (soot), carbon-dioxide (CO2), with fewer heavy Hydrocarbons (HC) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). Biodiesel does not contain sulfur so it will not contribute to sulfur dioxide emissions that result in acid rain. Biodiesel will not poison exhaust catalysts like sulfur laden diesel and it actually improves the efficiency of oxidative catalysts. With additives, NOx emissions can be reduced significantly making Biodiesel a must use fuel in any NOx reduction initiative.   Fueling with biodiesel that is not additized does tend to increase emissions of oxides of nitrogen commonly known as NOx. This increase can be anywhere from 1% - 15% depending on the engine type and blend of biodiesel used.

If an additized B20 Biodiesel blend were used throughout the entire Texas diesel fuel supply, the reductions in statewide NOx emissions would be impressive. Nationwide, blending biodiesel in with the nation's diesel fuel supply will enable dramatic reductions in NOx emissions, without the need to retro-fit any vehicles or fueling infrastructure. 

Biodiesel’s lack of sulfur also allows the use of NOx control technologies that cannot be used with conventional diesel fuels such as catalysts. The use of Biodiesel actually enhances the capability  of catalyzed particulate traps to reduce NOx emissions.

As you can see, the use of Biodiesel has many benefits, and we are just beginning to see what the future holds for Biodiesel fuel.

For further Biodiesel resources, Biodiesel Prices and Biodiesel Benefits see Biodiesel-Power.com