What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a clean burning renewable fuel that can be synthesized from an array of different oil-based materials, which includes vegetable oil and used cooking oil(UCO) through a double transesterification process. This non toxic and biodegradable fuel can in some engines be used unblended or can be blended with mineral diesel to create a biodiesel blend that can be used in unmodified diesel engines. Pure Fuel's only refines used cooking oil although the plant is capable of using a wide variety of raw materials including virgin oils, such as rapeseed oil.

How is biodiesel made?

Methanol, used in conjunction with an appropriate catalyst under controlled conditions allows oil-based material to be transesterified to a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). Transesterification basically sees the substitution of methanol (a monohydric alcohol) for triglycerides. The FAME then undergoes a series of washing steps before finally being distilled to produce a high specification biodiesel.

What are the environmental benefits of biodiesel?

Biodiesel is made from renewable and sustainable resources therefore reducing the pressure on dwindling mineral oil supplies. Using biodiesel is a practical way that people and businesses can reduce their carbon footprint - the amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of energy used. Pure Fuel's biodiesel production contributes to the government's predicted savings of 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year (equivalent to taking 1 million cars off the road) to be achieved by requiring 5 per cent of all road fuels sold in the UK to come from renewable sources by 2010. It's also biodegradable and can be used for environmentally sensitive applications e.g. forestry and on waterways.

What is the difference between diesel and biodiesel?

Biodiesel is manufactured from renewable feedstock, which is animal or vegetable based, via a catalytic reaction known as transesterification. Diesel is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon molecules derived from petroleum crude oil extracted from natural sources that has taken million of years to form.

What effect does biodiesel have on engines?

Biodiesel can increase the life span of engines by acting as a natural lubricant. If consumers change their fuel from diesel to blended biodiesel, the biodiesel will act as a solvent and may remove debris left by mineral diesel. This will result in an earlier than usual fuel filter change during the first few months of using biodiesel.

How do biodiesel emissions compare to that of petroleum diesel?

The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in a substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particle matter compared to emissions from mineral diesel fuel. In addition the exhaust emissions of sulphur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel are negligible compared to mineral diesel.