Biodiesel &Biodiesel & Natural Natural GasGas

By: Ernesto CastroBy: Ernesto Castro

BiodieselBiodiesel Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable, fuel Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable, fuel

that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal that can be manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases.fats, or recycled restaurant greases.

Biodiesel is a cleaner burning replacement for petroleum Biodiesel is a cleaner burning replacement for petroleum diesel fuel.diesel fuel.

Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils, yellow grease, Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils, yellow grease, and tallowand tallow

It’s also a nontoxic & biodegradableIt’s also a nontoxic & biodegradable

BiodieselBiodiesel Liquid fuel made of fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty acid Liquid fuel made of fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty acid

methyl esters, or long chain mono alkyl esters.methyl esters, or long chain mono alkyl esters.

Biodiesel is used to fuel compression ignition engines, Biodiesel is used to fuel compression ignition engines, which run on petroleum dieselwhich run on petroleum diesel

The cold-flow properties of biodiesel blends vary The cold-flow properties of biodiesel blends vary depending on the amount of biodiesel in the blend. depending on the amount of biodiesel in the blend.

The smaller the percentage of biodiesel in the blend, the The smaller the percentage of biodiesel in the blend, the better it performs in cold temperatures.better it performs in cold temperatures.

BiodieselBiodiesel About 100 pounds of oil or fat are reacted with 10 About 100 pounds of oil or fat are reacted with 10

pounds of a short-chain alcohol in the presence of a pounds of a short-chain alcohol in the presence of a catalyst or potassium hydroxide to form 100 pounds of catalyst or potassium hydroxide to form 100 pounds of biodiesel & 10 pounds of glycerin. biodiesel & 10 pounds of glycerin.

Glycerin which is used in pharmaceuticals and Glycerin which is used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, among other markets, is produced as a co-cosmetics, among other markets, is produced as a co-product.product.

Biodiesel is distributed from the point of production to Biodiesel is distributed from the point of production to retail fueling stations by truck, train, or barge. retail fueling stations by truck, train, or barge.

BiodieselBiodiesel

Advantages:Advantages: It is safe, biodegradable, and produces less air pollutants It is safe, biodegradable, and produces less air pollutants

than petroleum-based diesel.than petroleum-based diesel. Can be used safely in most diesel engines.Can be used safely in most diesel engines.

Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Most vehicle manufacturers do not recommend using Most vehicle manufacturers do not recommend using

blends greater than B5.blends greater than B5. Engine damage caused by higher blends is not covered Engine damage caused by higher blends is not covered

by some manufacturer warranties.by some manufacturer warranties.

Natural GasNatural Gas Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons, predominantly Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons, predominantly

methane. it also contains hydrocarbons such as ethane methane. it also contains hydrocarbons such as ethane and propane and other gases such as nitrogen, helium, and propane and other gases such as nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and water vapor.carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and water vapor.

Natural gas has a high octane rating, and excellent Natural gas has a high octane rating, and excellent properties for spark-ignited internal combustion engines.properties for spark-ignited internal combustion engines.

It is non-toxic, non-corrosive, and non-carcinogenic.It is non-toxic, non-corrosive, and non-carcinogenic.

It haves no threat to soil, surface water, or groundwater.It haves no threat to soil, surface water, or groundwater.

Natural GasNatural Gas

Most natural gas is extracted from gas and oil wells.Most natural gas is extracted from gas and oil wells.

Smaller amounts are derived from supplemental sources Smaller amounts are derived from supplemental sources such as synthetic gas, landfill gas and other biogas such as synthetic gas, landfill gas and other biogas resources, and coal-derived gas, landfill gas, & otherresources, and coal-derived gas, landfill gas, & other

Natural gas covers about one quarter of the energy used in Natural gas covers about one quarter of the energy used in the United States.the United States.

About third of it goes to residential and commercial uses About third of it goes to residential and commercial uses (One third to industrial uses, and one third to electric power (One third to industrial uses, and one third to electric power production)production)

Natural GasNatural Gas About one tenth of one percent is currently used for About one tenth of one percent is currently used for

transportation.transportation.

Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV’s) are designed to run only on Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV’s) are designed to run only on natural gas, there is also bi-fuel NGV’s that have two separate natural gas, there is also bi-fuel NGV’s that have two separate fueling systems that enables the vehicles to use either one.fueling systems that enables the vehicles to use either one.

Natural gas vehicles are fueled up with compressed natural Natural gas vehicles are fueled up with compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gasgas or liquefied natural gas

Compressed natural gas, and liquefied gas are considered Compressed natural gas, and liquefied gas are considered alternative fuels.alternative fuels.

Natural GasNatural Gas

Advantages:Advantages: NGVs can produce significally lower amounts of harmful NGVs can produce significally lower amounts of harmful

emissions.emissions. Service lives two to three years longer than gasoline or diesel Service lives two to three years longer than gasoline or diesel

vehicles.vehicles. One of the cleanest burning alternative fuels.One of the cleanest burning alternative fuels. Can be used for compressed natural gas and liquefied natural Can be used for compressed natural gas and liquefied natural

gas to fuel cars and trucks.gas to fuel cars and trucks.

Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Only runs on natural gas.Only runs on natural gas. Lower energy content of natural gas.Lower energy content of natural gas. Additional weight may displace payload capacity.Additional weight may displace payload capacity.