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Alternative Fuels for Motor Vehicles
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources. Though derived from biological sources, it is a processed fuel that can be readily used in diesel-engined vehicles. Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxins.
Fats and oils are chemically reacted with an alcohol and an alkali (Sodium Hydroxide) to produce chemical compounds known as fatty acid esters. Methanol is the normal alcohol used and the compounds are called Methyl Esters. Biodiesel is the name given to these esters when they're intended for use as fuel.
Biodiesel operates in compression-ignition engines. Blends of up to 20% Biodiesel (mixed with petroleum diesel fuels) can be used in nearly all diesel engines. These low-level blends (20% and less) generally do not require any engine modifications. While 100% Biodiesel can be used in modern engines there is some concern about the long-term effects. Modern diesels are highly developed mechanisms with very precise fuel requirements and asking them to cope with fuels for which they were not designed is potentially very problematical. However there are many more robust and less highly designed power units, which are less fastidious about their fuel.
America is in the forefront of these developments, partly because of the availability of the oils and fats such as Soybean oil. There is a political dimension to this because there is also a tax incentive to producers to manufacture Biodiesel.
Biodiesel as a fuel is also available in the UK and on the continent although the supply is more limited. There are few car manufacturers who will officially approve their cars for 100% use. However within the agricultural industry the use of such fuels for tractors and other heavy diesel engined vehicles would be no problem.
There are information sources to be found which suggest that this fuel can be made at home on a small scale and a search on the Internet will throw up several "Recipes." Used Restaurant cooking oil appears to be a favourite source.
Still there is an over-riding proviso with this fuel and that is whether or not it can be seen as a feasible long-term alternative to petroleum products. Whether or not the cost involved in first of all growing the oil seed and then producing the oil and afterwards treating the oil to create a fuel suitable for commercial sale. There already exists a huge infrastructure associated with the petroleum industry and this would need to be replicated if Biodiesel were to be used on a massive scale.
If the source of the vegetable oil is fairly cheap because of overproduction then its use for Biodiesel production can be justified financially. The most likely scenario to my mind is that Biodiesel will be available in fairly large quantities and used as an additive or blended in to oil based Diesel to eke out the supply of petroleum based (normal) diesel.