What is Bio Diesel?
You have probably heard of bio diesel at some point, but if you haven’t, what is bio diesel?
Biodiesel is one of the major bio fuels. It is an alternative additive to diesel fuel that is made of biological ingredients instead of the usual crude oil. It usually consists of plant oils and animal fat that respond to a certain chemical reaction. What is great about bio fuels is the fact that they are renewable and they are non-toxic.
As for biodiesel fuels history, it was being experimented with long before the diesel engine was a reality. It was 1853 and scientists J. Patrick and E. Duffy were experimenting with converting vegetable oil into a viable fuel source. It wasn’t until 1893 that the first diesel engine became functional. Rudolf Diesel, the creator of the diesel engine had actually demonstrated that a diesel engine could operate on peanut oil. It was in the 1920s that engines were manufactured to operate on petro diesel rather than have the capability to operate off of bio fuels.
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Bio diesel fuel has once again become a topic of discussion since it is now possible to use vegetable oil as a fuel source. However, the diesel engine has to be modified and individuals must have access to the proper equipment to turn that vegetable oil into a fuel. The modifications usually cost a few thousands of dollars, but once a method of creating the fuel is established, the cost may offset the cost of modifications. The average cost of biodiesel can be anywhere between $.50 and $3.00 per gallon, depending on how you have the vegetable oil converted into a usable fuel.
The reason why bio diesel is being pushed as an alternative fuel is because it is cost-efficient and reduces many of the emissions that harm the environment. However, only bio diesel that is made of vegetable oil is guaranteed to not increase nitrogen oxide levels, so the options must be weighed.
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