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Biodiesel

Posted on: Sunday, 14 August 2005, 21:00 CDT

BIODIESEL is at the vanguard of today's movement towards clean and

renewable fuels. Engines that run on it produce negligible amounts of

particulate pollution and cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by about

85%. It is produced from vegetable oils and, provided it has been refined

to a certain standard, can theoretically be used like normal diesel in

unmodified engines.

However, car makers recommend a blend of 5% biodiesel to 95% normal

diesel, claiming that more than this ratio can damage fuel lines, filters

and fuel injector nozzles. Using more than 5% biodiesel can also

invalidate a vehicle's warranty.

Biodiesel's chemical name is methyl ester. The production process uses

methanol and a catalyst (typically sodium hydroxide or potassium

hydroxide) to remove the glycerine from the raw oil. Rapeseed, soya

beans, palm oil and sunflower seeds can all be used as sources for

biodiesel. It can also be made from used cooking oil and animal fats: the

25,000 tons of biodiesel produced annually in Britain come mostly from

cooking fat, often from chip shops.

While its emissions of sulphur and carbon monoxide are lower than those

from petrol and normal diesel, and the CO2 it emits is effectively

recycled (it was absorbed from the atmosphere by the plants as they

grew), biodiesel does produce higher levels of nitrous oxide.

Despite extensive tests in cars and lorries, biodiesel is not as

popular in Britain as in Europe. This is partly due to the fact that from

1995 to 2003 the Treasury charged full fuel duty on it. After pressure

from the British Association for Bio Fuels and Oils (Babfo) there is now

a duty rebate of 20p per litre on biodiesel.

In Germany, where the fuel has benefited from generous government tax

breaks, 1m tons are sold annually. Babfo is also campaigning for

set-aside land to be used for growing oil seeds for biodiesel. The

organisation estimates that up to 3% of the diesel used in British

vehicles could be biodiesel by the end of next year.

Source: New Straits Times

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