Biodiesel

What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic renewable resources, such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking oil. In the United States, it is usually made from soybean oil or recycled restaurant grease and can be blended with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. Also used in diesel engines with little or no modifications, biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

How does it work?

Biodiesel works the same as petroleum-based diesel fuel. The common biodiesel blend doesn’t require modifications for diesel engines, but an engine running on blends higher than 20% may require minor modification to seals, gaskets, and other parts.

How is Biodiesel made?

Biodiesel is made by chemically altering an organic oil (typically vegetable oil) through a process called "transesterification." The biodiesel is produced through a refining process which mixes the vegtable oil or animal fat with alcohol to remove glycerine, the by-product of biodiesel production. Biodiesel sold at fueling stations is produced to strict industry specifications to ensue proper performance. Raw vegetable oil is not a legal motor fuel registered with the EPA and does not meet biodiesel fuel specifications.

Find out more about biodiesel production (PDF) from the National Biodiesel Board.

What are the environmental advantages of Biodiesel?

Biodiesel emissions have roughly 45 to 90 percent lower toxic emissions than regular diesel fuel. It is non-toxic and biodegradable, and its handling and storage are safer than conventional petroleum diesel fuel. Although 100% biodiesel (B100) would be ideal, most biodiesel today is mixed with petroleum diesel to satisfy cool-weather performance, cost and equipment compatibility concerns. The most common mixture is B20, a mix of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel.

When restaurant grease is used for biodiesel production, the animal fat or vegetable oil that is otherwise dumped in a landfill can be used to fuel these vehicles -- thereby reducing waste or garbage. Biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil could be considered the most environmentally benign liquid fuel available because the primary ingredient is a post-consumer waste product. However, since Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) has more non-oil contaminants than virgin oil, it tends to have a somewhat bothersome odor to some. Others will argue that this is a negligible concern relative to being exposed to traditional petroleum diesel particulate exhaust. Most biodiesel today, however, is "virgin" produced from soy or canola crops -- which does not have this "cooking smell" phenomena.

Biodiesel also has a closed carbon cycle, meaning that the CO² released into the atmosphere when biodiesel is burned is recycled by growing plants, which are later processed into fuel.

What are the other advantages of biodiesel?

An optimal fuel for the diesel engine, biodiesel delivers similar performance and its superior lubricity helps reduce engine wear, even as an additive. Using biodiesel keeps our fuel purchase dollars at home instead of sending it to foreign countries. It can be produced domestically from renewable resources by almost 400,000 farmers in 29 states, reducing dependence on foreign oil and increasing agricultural revenue while creating jobs.

Are there any disadvantages to using Biodiesel?

Biodiesel has not been readily available in much of the nation, and costs approximately 20 cents more per gallon than regular diesel. Prices will decrease soon as more manufacturers come on line. Between 2000 and 2004, consumption jumped from 500,000 gallons to 25 million gallons.

There is one emission that increases with the use of biodiesel: Nitrus Oxide (NOx), which contributes to smog. The slight increase (up to 15 percent with pure biodiesel) in NOx is greatly offset by the reduction in all other emissions and the major reduction in greenhouse gases.

Old vehicles (older than mid-90s) might require upgrades of fuel lines (a cheap, easy upgrade), as biodiesel can eat through certain types of rubber. Also, because biodiesel loosens up deposits built up in the engine, the fuel filter can become clogged with newly-freed deposits and may need to be inspected or replaced.

Biodiesel also contains slightly less energy capacity by volume than petroleum diesel, so fuel economy tends to fall 0.7 percent for every 10 percent of biodiesel in your fuel blend.

There is legitimate concern that using land to grow crops for biodiesel production will compete directly with food production.

Where can I purchase Biodiesel?

There are many biodiesel fueling locations in California, including Pearson Fuels, LLC located on El Cajon Blvd. at the I-15 interchange.

View an interactive map of biodieself retail locations in the United States.

Can I make my own Biodiesel?

Biodiesel can be processed at home. The typical home-brewed batch is 20 to 100 gallons and can take up to a week to make (many of the steps require overnight settling). There are many safety procedures to follow when making biodiesel and special equipment must be used. If homemade biodiesel is used for an on-road vehicle, please check your tax codes as state fuel tax may apply. The first 400 gallons of home-made biodiesel is exempt from federal taxation and anything afer 400 gallons is subject to normal federal tax rates.

Here are a couple of links that may be helpful: Guide to Making Biodiesel.

What are the incentives for Biodiesel as a transportation fuel?

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 established a biodiesel mixture credit at 50 cents per gallon of biodiesel (such as cooking grease) and $1.00 per gallon of agri-biodiesel (virgin oil). Click here for more information on incentives offered.

Other resource links:
The National Biodiesel Board
DOE's Biodiesel web page