What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a clean combusting alternative fuel, obtained from domestic, renewable materials. Biodiesel contains no petroleum based products, but it may be combined with varying quantities of petroleum diesel to produce what is known as a biodiesel blend. It can also be utilized in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no engine adjustments needed. Biodiesel is quite easy to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and basically free of sulfur and aromatics.

Is Biodiesel identical to raw vegetable oil?

No! Biodiesel is prepared from any fat or oil such as soybean oil, via a refinery operation called transesterification. This process is a chemical reaction of the oil with an alcohol to take out the glycerin, which is a byproduct of biodiesel manufacture. Fuel-grade biodiesel must be prepared to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to ensure correct engine performance. Biodiesel is the sole alternative fuel to have fully accomplished the health effects testing requisites of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 and is legally certified with the Environmental Protection Agency is a legitimate motor fuel for sale and distribution. Raw vegetable oil can't meet biodiesel fuel specifications, it is not certified with the EPA, and it is consequently not a legal motor fuel.

For entities looking to embrace a definition of biodiesel for functions such as federal or state statute, state or national sections of weights and measures, or for any additional purpose, the official definition accordant with other federal and state laws and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines is as follows:

Biodiesel is characterized as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids obtained from vegetable oils or animal fats which follow ASTM D6751 specifications for utilization in diesel engines. Biodiesel refers to the pure fuel prior to mixing with diesel fuel. Biodiesel blends are referred as, 'BXX' with 'XX' symbolizing the portion of biodiesel incorporated in the blend (ie: B20 is 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel).

Is biodiesel employed as a pure fuel or is it intermixed with petroleum diesel?

Biodiesel may be used as a virgin fuel or immixed with petroleum in some percentage. B20 (a blend of 20 percent by volume biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel) has exhibited important environmental benefits with a negligible increase in cost for fleet operations and some other consumers.

Is it approved for use in the US?

Biodiesel is certified as a fuel and fuel additive with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and conforms to clean diesel standards laid down by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).