Go Green! : Biodiesel

In this age when mankind is consuming excessive quantities of fossil fuels and thus depleting the already restricted reserves of oil, the high costs of fuels has made it necessary to look for alternative solutions with which to power mankind forward. Thus, there is a gradual shift towards more reliable as well as alternative solutions to fossil fuel such as biodiesel. According to experts and also those that are enthused by this energy source, biodiesel may well in fact turn out to be fuel that will power us forward in the times to come.

In fact, biodiesel also contains some of the same characteristics as are found in traditional diesels. However, biodiesel is essentially obtained from vegetable oils that are of superior quality and can be produced through large scale manufacturing processes – like in a refinery or on a smaller scale such as in a home where a kit can do the job admirably well. Today, biodiesel is essentially considered an alternative to most diesel fuels.

Depending on the geographical location, biodiesel is produced through use of different plants and in theory it is possible to create biodiesel with the help of just about any vegetable. However, in America, it is generally produced from corn which is commonly grown in that country.

In Europe, however rapseed is the plant used for producing biodiesel while in Southeast Asia it is obtained from Soybeans. However, once these plants have been put through the manufacturing process, the end result is the same regardless of the type of plant used.

The name of the manufacturing process that takes, as the main ingredient, vegetable oil that is in its purest form is known as ester interchange and it involves combining the vegetable oil with small quantities of Methanol which are then together put in alkaline catalyst to change the vegetable oil’s makeup.

Once the process is completed, you will get a fuel that burns cleanly and which has the same viscosity as that of the regular diesel fuel. Today, biodiesel is only used to replace those diesel fuels that are petroleum based. In any case, there is no doubting that this alternative energy source is economical and also very efficient and thus will, once its manufacturing processes are thoroughly understood and mastered, prove to be the answer to our energy needs while also ensuring minimum pollution to the environment.

---

Pictures:

• http://www.stickerguy.com/stikweek/biodiesel-big.gif
  

• https://reich-chemistry.wikispaces.com/file/view/biodiesel-flow-chart.gif/76288631/biodiesel-flow-chart.gif
• http://dieselnews.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/biodiesel-soybeans.jpg

Source: http://www.physicspost.com/science-article-233.html