| 1. What is biodiesel? |
| 2. What are blends of B5 or B20 and pure biodiesel? |
| 3. Can I use biodiesel in the USA? |
| 4. What is the EPAct (Energy Policy Act)? |
| 5. What are emissions reductions? |
| 6. Can biodiesel mitigate "global warming"? |
| 7. Is biodiesel safer than petroleum diesel? |
| 8. Does biodiesel need special storage facilities? |
| 9. Can biodiesel be used in any diesel engine? |
| 10. Are there any precautions to using biodiesel? |
| 11. Does biodiesel work with older engines? |
| 12. Who is using biodiesel? |
| 13. What are the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards? |
| 14. Will using biodiesel impact my engine warranty? |
| 15. How does biodiesel help lubricity? |
| 16. What is the biodegradability of biodiesel? |
| 17. What are the sources of vegetable oil as fuel? |
| 18. Can I use biodiesel in my existing diesel engine? |
| 19. Do I need special storage facilities? |
| 20. How do biodiesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel? |
| 21. Does biodiesel cost more than other alternative fuels? |
| 22. How do biodiesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel? |
| 23. How much biodiesel has been sold in the US? |
| 24. Is it approved for use in the US? |
| 25. Is biodiesel the same thing as raw vegetable oil? |
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What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources, such as soybeans or used vegetable oils. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create blends, generally called B20 or B5.
In addition to supporting domestic farmers for their soybean crops, a primary reason for developing alternatives to oil is the creation of U.S. independence from foreign oil. Every gallon of biodiesel used displaces a gallon of diesel made from foreign oil.
Biodiesel also has been shown to improve vehicle performance with enhanced lubricity and reduction of emissions. It is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Biodiesel is used by major trucking fleets, as well as the U.S. military, national parks, NASA, state transportation departments, major public utility fleets, environmental companies, farmers and several school districts nationwide. |
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What are blends of B5 or B20 and pure biodiesel?
B5 is a blend of five percent biodiesel and 95 percent by volume of petroleum diesel. A blend of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel is referred to as B20. Although biodiesel can be used at any mixture, including 100 percent, the B20 mixture is considered the best blend for normal use in conventional diesel engines for its air quality improvements. |
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Can I use biodiesel in the USA?
Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meets clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Pure biodiesel (B100) has been designated as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Department of Transportation |
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What is the EPAct (Energy Policy Act)?
EPAct is the Energy Policy Act of 1992 that focuses on reducing motor fuel consumption and mandates alternative fuel use. EPAct's primary emphasis is to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil through the promotion of domestic, alternative transportation fuels. Provisions of EPAct mandate alternative fuel vehicle purchases for federal, state and fuel provider fleets, with the potential of mandates for municipal and private fleets. Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) have the ability to run on biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), propane, methanol, ethanol or electric. The federal government, through EPAct, has established mandates for AFV purchases by federal and state agencies beginning in 1993 and 1997 respectively. EPAct also gives the Department of Energy the authority to establish mandates for municipalities and private fleets located in large metropolitan areas. In addition, fuel providers are currently required to have AFVs as an increasing percentage of their fleet purchases. |
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What are emissions reductions?
Fine particulate emissions have been identified as a major health risk, the smaller the particle, the greater the risk. Motor vehicles powered by diesel engines are a significantly disproportionate contributor of fine particle pollution and oxides of nitrogen in urban areas.
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel.
Of the major exhaust pollutants, both unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are ozone or smog-forming precursors. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods employed.
The use of biodiesel decreases solid carbon fraction of particulate matter as an increased amount of oxygen present in biodiesel enables a more complete combustion process. Since sulphur is not present in biodiesel, sulfate fraction associated with petroleum-based diesel is eliminated. 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. Research conducted by Southwest Research Institute on a Cummins N14 engine indicates that the biodiesel exhaust has a less harmful impact on human health than petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel emissions have decreased the levels of all largest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrated PAH compounds were reduced by 75-85 percent. |
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Can biodiesel mitigate "global warming"?
A 1998 biodiesel lifecycle study, jointly sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture, concluded biodiesel reduces net CO2 emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel. This is due to biodiesel's closed carbon cycle. The CO² released into the atmosphere when biodiesel is burned is recycled by growing plants, which are later processed into fuel. Is biodiesel safer than petroleum diesel? Scientific research confirms that biodiesel exhaust has a less harmful impact on human health than petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel emissions have decreased levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrated PAH compounds that have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds. Test results indicate PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, with the exception of benzo(a)anthracene, which was reduced by roughly 50 percent. Targeted nPAH compounds were also reduced dramatically with biodiesel fuel, with 2-nitrofluorene and 1-nitropyrene reduced by 90 percent, and the rest of the nPAH compounds reduced to only trace levels. |
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Is biodiesel safer than petroleum diesel?
Scientific research confirms that biodiesel exhaust is less harmful on human health than petroleum diesel. Biodiesel emissions have decreased levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrited PAH compounds that have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds. Test results indicate PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, with the exception of benzo(a)anthracene, which was reduced by roughly 50 percent. One hundred percent biodiesel and blends of biodiesel with petroleum diesel are safer to store, handle and use than conventional diesel. |
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Does biodiesel need special storage facilities?
In general, the standard storage and handling procedures used for petroleum diesel can be used for biodiesel. The fuel should be stored in a clean, dry, dark environment. Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminum, steel, fluorinated polyethylene, fluorinated polypropylene and teflon. Copper, brass, lead, tin and zinc should be avoided.
Biodiesel does suffer from a problem called oxidation if stored for periods longer than six months. This means that the fuel will slowly oxidize over time unless an anti-oxidant additive is blended to the fuel to prevent this process happening. |
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Can biodiesel be used in any diesel engine?
Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine, typically with no modifications to the engine necessary. It performs comparably to diesel, with similar BTU content and higher cetane. It offers excellent lubricity and lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. |
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Are there any precautions to using biodiesel?
Biodiesel has a solvent effect that may release deposits accumulated on tank walls or pipes from previous diesel fuel storage and precautions should be taken when first switching over to Biodiesel. The release of deposits may clog filters initially and precautions should be taken to prevent these deposits from getting to the engine fuel filters.
Over time, Biodiesel will soften and degrade certain types of elastomers and natural rubber compounds used in older fuel hoses and pump seal systems. Precautions are needed when using high percent blends to ensure that the existing fueling system on older engines does not contain elastomer compounds incompatible with biodiesel. Manufacturers recommend that natural or butyl rubbers not be allowed to come in contact with neat biodiesel otherwise they turn sticky and fall apart. Most vehicles made after 1994 will have fully synthetic fuel lines and seals so will not suffer from this problem, but older vehicles need to be monitored.
Biodiesel has a higher gel point. 100 percent biodiesel, referred to as B100, gets slushy at 32°F. A blend of 20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent regular diesel, B20, has a gel point of 7°F. Like regular diesel, the gel point can be lowered further with additives such as kerosene, which are blended into winter diesel in cold-weather areas. |
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Does biodiesel work with older engines?
Biodiesel can have some methanol left in it from the production process that uses MethalOxide during the transesterification process. Methanol will destroy rubber tubing and seals over time, so older engines without synthetic seals made from products like Viton, will need to have rubber parts in the fuel system replaced. |
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Who is using biodiesel?
Biodiesel is used by major trucking fleets, as well as the U.S. military, national parks, NASA, state transportation departments, major public utility fleets, environmental companies, city government, farmers and several school districts nationwide. |
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What are the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards?
The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) biodiesel Task Force began working on a standard for biodiesel in 1994 and issued Specification D 6751 in 2002 covering all biodiesel fuel bought and sold in the United States. The ASTM biodiesel Standard helps to protect consumers from poor products and reduce the cost of buying and selling biodiesel. |
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Will using biodiesel impact my engine warranty?
Manufacturers warrant their products against defects in materials and workmanship. In general, use of a particular fuel should have no effect on the materials and workmanship warranty. Use of biodiesel does not "void the warranty," as this is prohibited by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Manufacturers are concerned that extensive use of biodiesel will result in increased numbers of warranty claims for what are actually problems caused by the fuel. |
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How does biodiesel help lubricity?
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. Lubricity results of biodiesel and petroleum diesel using the High Frequency Reciprocating Rig test indicate that there is a marked improvement in lubricity when biodiesel is added to conventional diesel fuel, even at blend levels below one percent. |
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What is the biodegradability of biodiesel?
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). Biodiesel samples degraded more rapidly than sugar, and were 95 percent degraded at the end of 28 days. Normal petroleum based diesel fuel was only about 40 percent degraded after the same 28 day test period.
Blending biodiesel with regular petroleum based diesel fuel also accelerates the blended fuel's overall biodegradability. For example, blends of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel fuel (B20) degraded twice as fast as petroleum diesel. 100 percent pure biodiesel degrades as fast as sugar and a 20 percent blend will degrade twice as fast as petroleum based diesel fuel. |
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What are the sources of vegetable oil as fuel?
Virgin vegetable oil can be harvested from many oil feedstock plants like soybeans, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds, palm oil and even some types of algae. Recycled vegetable oil from local restaurants and other used sources are also a useful reservoir of renewable fuel for diesel engines as approximately 4.5 billion gallons per year of used vegetable oil is available in the USA. |
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Can I use biodiesel in my existing diesel engine?
Biodiesel can be operated in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine or the fuel system. Biodiesel has a solvent effect that may release deposits accumulated on tank walls and pipes from previous diesel fuel storage. The release of deposits may clog filters initially and precautions should be taken. Ensure that only fuel meeting the biodiesel specification is used. |
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Do I need special storage facilities?
In general, the standard storage and handling procedures used for petroleum diesel can be used for biodiesel. The fuel should be stored in a clean, dry, dark environment. Acceptable storage tank materials include aluminum, steel, fluorinated polyethylene, fluorinated polypropylene and teflon. Copper, brass, lead, tin, and zinc should be avoided. |
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How do biodiesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel?
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel.
Of the major exhaust pollutants, both unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are ozone or smog forming precursors. The use of biodiesel results in a substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons. Emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods used. Based on engine testing, using the most stringent emissions testing protocols required by EPA for certification of fuels or fuel additives in the US, the overall ozone forming potential of the speciated hydrocarbon emissions from biodiesel was nearly 50 percent less than that measured for diesel fuel.
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Does biodiesel cost more than other alternative fuels?
When reviewing the high costs associated with other alternative fuel systems, many fleet managers have determined biodiesel to be their least-cost-strategy to comply with state and federal regulations. Use of biodiesel does not require major engine modifications. That means operators can keep their fleets, their spare parts inventories, their refueling stations and their skilled mechanics. The only thing that changes is air quality. |
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How do biodiesel emissions compare to petroleum diesel?
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter compared to emissions from diesel fuel. In addition, the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel.
Of the major exhaust pollutants, both unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are ozone or smog forming precursors. The use of biodiesel results in a substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons. Emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly reduced or slightly increased depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods used. Based on engine testing, using the most stringent emissions testing protocols required by EPA for certification of fuels or fuel additives in the US, the overall ozone forming potential of the speciated hydrocarbon emissions from biodiesel was nearly 50 percent less than that measured for diesel fuel.
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How much biodiesel has been sold in the US?
2006 - 250 million gallons
2005 - 75 million gallons
2004 - 25 million gallons
2003 - 20 million gallons
2002 - 15 million gallons
2001 - 5 million gallons
2000 - 2 million gallons
1999 - 500,000 gallons |
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Is it approved for use in the US?
Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and a fuel additive with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meets clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Neat (100 percent) biodiesel has been designated as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Department of Transportation (DOT). |
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Is biodiesel the same thing as raw vegetable oil?
No. Biodiesel is produced from fat or oil (such as soybean oil) through a refining process called transesterification. This process reacts the oil with an alcohol to remove the glycerin, which is a by-product of biodiesel production. Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to insure proper performance. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 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.
For entities seeking to adopt a definition of biodiesel for purposes such as federal or state statute, state or national divisions of weights and measures, or for any other purpose, the official definition consistent with other federal and state laws and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines is as follows:
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 (i.e.: B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel).
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