Biodiesel – FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

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Biodiesel - Questions & More Questions

Can animal fat be used as biodiesel?

· KMB Tests Biodiesel from Pork Fat – Joruney to Forever

· Biodiesel Produced from Animal Fat in Styria (PDF)

· Any Downside to Using Animal Fat for Biodiesel? – Biodiesel Now Forums

· Animal Fats Perform Well in Biodiesel – Render Magazine (PDF)

· Safety of Animal Fats for Biodiesel Production – Critical Review of Literature (PDF)

· Feasibility of Biodiesel from Waste Recycled Grease and Animal Fats (PDF)

Turkey Guts & Waste into Oil

How long would petro-diesel/gasoline last?

· Long Term World Oil Supply – Dept of Energy, Govt of USA ( see also here)

· How long will the World’s Oil Last ? – Energy Bulletin

What are the other alternatives to biodiesel?

· Alternative Fuels Data Center – Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Govt of USA

· Alternative Fuels Portal – from Petroleum Equipment Institute

· Alternative Fuel Station Locator (US)

· Alternative Fuel Vehicle Directory

What are the key disadvantages of biodiesel?

· Biodiesel Fuel – from CPast

· Advantages & Disadvantages of Biodiesel – Fuel Economy

What is the cost of biodiesel vis a vis petro diesel?

· Projected Production Cost for Diesel Fuel by Feedstock – Dept of Energy, Govt of USA

· Cost of Biodiesel – from Biodiesel Now Forums

· Biodiesel Performance, Costs & Use – Dept of Energy, Govt of USA

Can I make biodiesel at home?

· Make your Own Biodiesel – from Journey to Forever

· Making Biodiesel Fuel @ Home – Bagel Hole

· Making Biodiesel at Home – A Resource Guide (PDF)

What is the experience of biodiesel made from waste oil?

· Fuel from Waste

· Urban Waste to Biodiesel Initiative (PDF)

· On Farm Biodiesel Production from Waste Vegetable Oil (PDF)

How much biodiesel would be required to completely replace petro-diesel? What % of this is available currently?

The current world consumption of petro-fuels is about 12 Million Tons per day = about 5 billion T per annum. Since the energy provided by biodiesel is slightly (about 10%) lower than that of petro-fuels, the world would require about 5.5 billion T of bio-diesel to completely replace petro-diesel, at the current levels of consumption. The total world production of vegetable oils was only about 0.06 billion T in 2005. That is, the total production of vegetable oil in the world is just one-hundredth of what will be required for complete replacement. It is easy to see that it very early days for biodiesel. (see also: What is Biodiesel – from Becon, Iowa State University)

What are the likely scenarios with regard to biodiesel usage in future?

· Biofuels & the Future – Possible Scenarios – Biodiesel.co.uk

· Managing Future Fuels Complexity (PDF)

· Future Energy Development - Wikipedia

What is the chemical structure of biodiesel?

· Biodiesel Transesterification – Iowa State University (PDF)

· The Chemistry & Efficiency of Producing Biodiesel (PDF)

Can biodiesel be produced at lower costs at much higher capacities – economies of scale?

· Feasibility Study for a Michigan Biodiesel Plant (PDF)

· Vegetable Oils Fuels – form Govt of Alberta, Canada

What are the various forms of bio-energy?

· Bio-energy – from BioPortal, Canada

· Hot Links to Bioenergy – from Discover Solar Energy

Are there any changes I should make to my diesel engine in order to use biodiesel?

Biodiesel can be used without any changes to a diesel engine.

Are there more biodiesel FAQs on the web?

· Biodiesel FAQ – from Biodiesel.org

· Biodiesel FAQ – from Ecology Center

· Biodiesel FAQ from Argent Energy

· Biodiesel FAQ from SeaPort Biofuels

· Biodiesel FAQ – from Vermont Biofuels

Are there alternative methods of biodiesel processing/manufacture currently being contemplated?

Transesterification is the main process that is used to make biodiesel from plant and vegetable oils. The alternative methods (to transesterification) are:

· dilution of 25 parts of vegetable oil with 75 parts of diesel fuel

· microemulsions with short chain alcohols (e.g. ethanol or methanol)

· thermal decomposition, which produces alkanes, alkenes, carboxylic acids and aromatic compounds

· catalytic cracking, which produces alkanes, cycloalkanes and alkylbenzenes

Tell me more about Biodiesel blends with petro-diesel/gasoline?

· Blends – from Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Govt of USA

· Biodiesel Blends in Microturbines (PDF)

· Biodiesel Info from CICCA

Are there biodiesel glossaries online?

· Biodiesel Glossary – from DFW Biodiesel

· Biodiesel Glossary – from Spinninglobe

· Glossary of Biodiesel Production – from Planet Fuels

· Biodiesel Glossary – from Boulder Biodiesel

· Glossary of Biodiesel Terms – form Biodiesel Homekit

What are the legacy petro companies response to biodiesel?

· Oilheat Dealers Consider Offering Bioheat

· Setting a National Standard for Biodiesel – Australian Institute of Petroleum (PDF)

· Biodiesel Boosted by Big Oil? – from Tree Hugger

Which are the major companies foraying into biodiesel?

· 2005 Biodiesel Industry Directory

· Biodiesel Oil Distributors – United States

What are the market segments for biodiesel?

Market Segment - Electricity Generation

· Biodiesel for Electricity Generation – from Biodiesel.org

· Alternative Fuels for Transport & Electricity Generation (PDF)

· The Use of Palm Oil for Electricity Generation in the Amazon Region (PDF)

Market Segment - Farming

· Biodiesel in the Farm Market Segment – form Biodiesel.org

· Biodiesel Farming Forum – from Biodiesel Now

· Biodiesel for All Farm Equipment – Long Meadow Ranch News

Market Segment - Fleets

· Biodiesel for Fleets – from Biodiesel.org

· Biodiesel Offers Fleets a Better Alternative to Petroleum Diesel – World Energy.net (PDF)

· San Francisco Tour Company Switches to Biodiesel

Market Segment - Heating Oil

· Biodiesel as Home Heating Oil – Biodiesel.org

· Bioheating Oil – from Journey to Forever

· Heat your Home with Biodiesel – Mother Earth News

· Biodiesel for Home Heating – form Green Car Congress

Market Segment - Marine

· Biodiesel in the Marine Industry – Biodiesel.org

· Biodiesel for Marine Operations – SEA 02

· Biodiesel for Marine Use – from Sport Fishing

Are there Biodiesel publications & magazines online?

· Biodiesel Fuels Publications – from National Renewable Energy Laboratories

· Render Magazine

Can Biodiesel help mitigate global warming?

· Fight Global Warming from Home

· Evaluation of the Comparable Energy, Global Warming & Socio-economic Costs & Benefits of Biodiesel (PDF)

· Global Warming Solutions – Blue Water Network (PDF)

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About Oilgae - Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general. Algae present an exciting possibility as a feedstock for biodiesel, and when you realise that oil was originally formed from algae - among others - you think "Hey! Why not oil again from algae!"

To facilitate exploration of oil production from algae as well as exploration of other alternative energy avenues, Oilgae provides web links, directory, and related resources for algae-based biofuels / biodiesel along with inputs on new inventions, discoveries & breakthroughs in other alternative energy domains such as solar, wind, nuclear, hydro, geothermal, hydrogen & fuel cells, gravitational, geothemal, human-powered, ocean & wave / tidal energy.

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