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This process converts
vegetable oil, which has a high energy
content but also a high viscosity, into
biodiesel, which has a viscosity similar
to that of petrodiesel; glycerol is
produced as a byproduct.
Compared to current low
sulfur petroleum diesel, biodiesel
blends have superior characteristics in
terms of lubricity, emissions, safety,
and biodegradability. Most emissions are
significantly lower for biodiesel
blends; only NOx emissions are higher
for biodiesel than for petrodiesel, and
only by a small amount.
Once ultra-low sulfur
petrodiesel becomes available, and
engines that are able to take advantage
of pollution control technology are on
the road, biodiesel’s air pollution
advantage will diminish, but biodiesel
will remain practically greenhouse-gas
neutral.
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Biodiesel has a very low
toxicity and is not a hazardous
material.
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How does biodiesel reduce carbon
dioxide emissions?
Biodiesel produces 93% less fossil
carbon dioxide than petrodiesel.
Biodiesel’s energy balance will also
remain far superior to any other motor
vehicle fuel.
Most of the carbon in biodiesel is
"recycled" by photosynthesis.
The carbon in the biodiesel you use
today was in the atmosphere just last
year, and was turned into vegetable oil
during the growing season.
In contrast, the carbon in fossil
fuels was most recently in the
atmosphere hundreds of millions of years
ago, so burning it results in a net
increase of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere. See more on fossil
carbon dioxide for more information
Carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere
Carbon dioxide comes
from many sources, but land use changes
and fossil fuel use account for the
increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere.
See the global
warming chemistry page for details
of how carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases account for the
increasing temperatures that go with
global climate change.
Global warming
The main cause of global climate
change is the build-up in the atmosphere
of gases including carbon dioxide,
methane, and oxides of nitrogen (also
called NOx ). There are natural sources
of these gases but the greenhouse gases
produced by human activities are the
ones that are causing global climate
change. More on this in the global
warming section.
There's no doubt that
global warming is happening, and that
humans are adding to it through use of
fossil fuels. Countries around the
world, along with the State of
Washington, are taking action.
Central Washington
Biodiesel is taking action by producing
biodiesel, a non-fossil fuel that can
serve as a 100% replacement for
petrodiesel. Biodiesel is made from
vegetable oil and methanol -- and only
the methanol comes from fossil fuel
sources.
Find out more on:
Global
Warming
Global
Warming Chemistry
Fossil
Carbon Dioxide
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February 1, 2007
