*****, just for clarification, the Bio- Diesel that I use is used cooking oil, that is refined, that oil that was once fed to pigs as a swill mixture untill the H & S stopped it. So please explain how that is starving the world. You really shouldnt listen to the do gooders & news papers. And before byou bang on about the damage, read this.
Environmental Benefits
Emissions
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to voluntarily perform EPA Tier I and Tier II testing to
quantify emission characteristics and health effects. That study found that B20 (20%
biodiesel blended with 80% conventional diesel fuel) reduced total hydrocarbons by
up to 30%, Carbon Monoxide up to 20%, and total particulate matter up to 15%.
Typically, emissions of nitrogen oxides are either slightly reduced or slightly increased
depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods used. Increases in
NOx can be effectively eliminated with the use of normal mechanical remediation
techniques (e.g. catalysts or timing changes). Research also documents the fact that
the ozone forming potential of the hydrocarbon emissions of pure biodiesel is nearly
50% less than that of petroleum fuel. Pure biodiesel does not contain sulfur and
therefore reduces sulfur dioxide exhaust from diesel engines to virtually zero.
Biodiesel can also help meet national goals for the net reduction of atmospheric
carbon. As a renewable fuel derived from organic materials, biodiesel and blends of
biodiesel reduce the net amount of carbon dioxide in the biosphere. A study by the US
Department of Energy has found that biodiesel production and use, in comparison to
petroleum diesel, produces 78.5% less CO2 emissions. Carbon dioxide is “taken up” by
the annual production of crops such as soybeans and then released when vegetable
oil based biodiesel is combusted. This makes biodiesel the best technology currently
available for heavy-duty diesel applications to reduce atmospheric carbon.
Health Effects
Biodiesel is safer for people to breathe. Research conducted in the US shows biodiesel
emissions have decreased levels of all target polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
and nitrited PAH compounds, as compared to petroleum diesel exhaust. PAH and
nPAH compounds have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds.
Targeted PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, with the exception of
benzo(a)anthracene, which was reduced by roughly 50 percent. Target nPAH
compounds were also reduced dramatically with biodiesel fuel, with 2-nitrofluorene
and 1-nitropyrene reduced by 90 percent, and the rest of the nPAH compounds
reduced to only trace levels. All of these reductions are due to the fact the biodiesel
fuel contains no aromatic compounds.
Energy Balance
Biodiesel helps preserve and protect natural resources. For every one unit of energy
needed to produce biodiesel, 3.24 units of energy are gained. This is the highest
energy balance of any fuel. Because of this high energy balance and since it is
domestically produced, biodiesel use can greatly contribute to domestic energy
security.
Biodegradability and Toxicity
Environmental Benefits
Biodiesel is nontoxic and biodegradable. Tests sponsored by the United States
Department of Agriculture confirm that biodiesel is ten times less toxic than table salt
and biodegrades as fast as dextrose (a test sugar).
BIODIESEL EMISSIONS
Biodiesel is the first and only alternative fuel to have a complete
evaluation of emission results and potential health effects
submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
under the Clean Air Act Section 211(b). These programs include
the most stringent emissions testing protocols ever required by
EPA for certification of fuels or fuel additives. The data gathered
complete the most thorough inventory of the environmental
and human health effects attributes that current technology will
allow.
EPA has surveyed the large body of biodiesel emissions studies
and averaged the Health Effects testing results with other major
studies. The results are seen in the table below. To view EPA’s
report titled “A Comprehensive Analysis of Biodiesel Impacts on
Exhaust Emissions” visit:
www.epa.gov/otaq/models/analysis/biodsl/p02001.pdf.
AVERAGE BIODIESEL EMISSIONS COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL DIESEL,
ACCORDING TO EPA
Emission Type B100
B20
Regulated
Total Unburned Hydrocarbons -67% -20%
Carbon Monoxide -48% -12%
Particulate Matter -47% -12%
Nox +10% +2% to
-2%
Non-Regulated
Sulfates -100% -20%*
PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)** -80% -13%
nPAH (nitrated PAH’s)** -90% -50%***
Ozone potential of speciated HC -50% -10%
* Estimated from B100 result
** Average reduction across all compounds measured
*** 2-nitroflourine results were within test method variability
(more)
The ozone (smog) forming potential of biodiesel hydrocarbons is less than
diesel fuel. The ozone forming potential of the speciated hydrocarbon
emissions is 50 percent less than that measured for diesel fuel.
Sulfur emissions are essentially eliminated with pure biodiesel. The
exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid
rain) from biodiesel are essentially eliminated compared to diesel.
Criteria pollutants are reduced with biodiesel use. Tests show the use of
biodiesel in diesel engines results in substantial reductions of unburned
hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Emissions of
nitrogen oxides stay the same or are slightly increased.
Carbon Monoxide -- The exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide (a
poisonous gas) from biodiesel are on average 48 percent lower than
carbon monoxide emissions from diesel.
Particulate Matter -- Breathing particulate has been shown to be a
human health hazard. The exhaust emissions of particulate matter
from biodiesel are about 47 percent lower than overall particulate
matter emissions from diesel.
Hydrocarbons -- The exhaust emissions of total hydrocarbons (a
contributing factor in the localized formation of smog and ozone) are
on average 67 percent lower for biodiesel than diesel fuel.
Nitrogen Oxides -- NOx emissions from biodiesel increase or decrease
depending on the engine family and testing procedures. NOx
emissions (a contributing factor in the localized formation of smog and
ozone) from pure (100%) biodiesel increase on average by 10 percent.
However, biodiesel’s lack of sulfur allows the use of NOx control
technologies that cannot be used with conventional diesel.
Additionally, some companies have successfully developed additives
to reduce Nox emissions in biodiesel blends.
Biodiesel reduces the health risks associated with petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel emissions show decreased levels of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(nPAH), which have been identified as potential cancer causing
compounds. In Health Effects testing, PAH compounds were reduced by
75 to 85 percent, with the exception of benzo(a)anthracene, which was
reduced by roughly 50 percent. Targeted nPAH compounds were also
reduced dramatically with biodiesel, with 2-nitrofluorene and 1-
nitropyrene reduced by 90 percent, and the rest of the nPAH compounds
reduced to only trace levels.
Hope that clears any doubts.
