Biodiesel—ready to rumble

Engine ready, less toxic than table salt, more biodegradable than sugar

March 1, 2010

Biodiesel is made from renewable resources and can be operated in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine or the fuel system. Manufacturers can use it in their fleets to reduce net CO² emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel.

1. What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is the name of a clean-burning, sustainable fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources that can be used to replace petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification, whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products—methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products).

Biodiesel is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats that conform to ASTM D6751 specifications for use in diesel engines.

Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended with petroleum diesel or used as a pure fuel. Biodiesel blends are denoted as “BXX,” with “XX” representing the percentage of biodiesel contained in the blend (for example, B20 is 20 percent by volume biodiesel, 80 percent petroleum diesel). B20 has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for fleet operations and other consumers.

2. Is it approved for use in the U.S.?

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). Neat (100 percent) biodiesel has been designated as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S.Department of Transportation (DOT).

3. Can I use biodiesel in my existing diesel engine?

Yes, biodiesel can be operated in any compression-ignition (diesel) engine with little or no modification to the engine or the fuel system. That means you keep your fleets, spare parts inventories, refueling stations, and skilled mechanics. The only thing that changes is air quality.

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 ASTM D6751 specification is used.

4. Do I need special storage facilities?

In general, you can use the standard storage and handling procedures you use for petroleum diesel 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.

5. Is biodiesel the same thing as raw vegetable oil?

No! Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to ensure proper performance. Biodiesel that meets the ASTM spec and is legally registered with the EPA 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.

6. How is biodiesel more ecofriendly than petroleum diesel?

Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared with petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar.

A 1998 biodiesel life cycle study, jointly sponsored by the U.S. DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, (DOA) concluded biodiesel reduces net CO² emissions by 78 percent compared with 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 nitrited polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAH) compounds that have been identified as potential cancer-causing compounds. Test results indicate PAH compounds were reduced by 13 percent in B20 (65 percent in B100). 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.

Of the major exhaust pollutants, unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are 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 the EPA for certification of fuels or fuel additives in the U.S., the overall ozone-forming potential of the speciated hydrocarbon emissions from biodiesel was nearly 50 percent less than that measured for diesel fuel.

Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. 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.

7. How efficient is biodiesel?

Biodiesel has the highest energy balance of any fuel, returning 4.5 units of energy for every unit of fossil energy needed to produce it.

8. Where can I purchase biodiesel?

Biodiesel is available nationwide. It can be purchased directly from biodiesel producers and marketers, petroleum distributors, or at a handful of public pumps throughout the nation. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) maintains a list of registered fuel marketers. A current list is available on the biodiesel Web site at www.biodiesel.org or by calling the NBB at (800) 841-5849.

U.S. Biodiesel Production

The National Biodiesel Board has released the following production volume

estimates in gallons for the U.S.:

2008 — 700 million	2003 — 20 million
2007 — 450 million	2002 — 15 million
2006 — 250 million	2001 — 5 million
2005 — 75 million	2000 — 2 million
2004 — 25 million	1999 — 500,000