There are constant reminders of the huge global problems we must solve in the next hundred years. Rising gas prices, tighter emissions regulations, and increase in political tensions indicate one of these problems: dependency on petroleum. The quest for alternative fuel sources is varied, from hydrogen to electricity, but there is only one alternative fuel that meets the Health Effects Testing Requirements, and that is biodiesel. Strangely, many people are still completely in the dark when it comes to the functions, impacts, history, and future of this widely used alternative fuel.
The History of Biodiesel
Interestingly, biodiesel was created long before diesel engines were widely used. The first serious and large scale use of biodiesel was during World War II, when countries were not apt to trade and lacking in their own resources. The early use of biodiesel caused a lot of mechanical problems due to clogging, but as mixtures of biodiesel and petroleum became more common these problems subsided. Today biodiesel is most widely known as an alternative to petroleum that produces less emissions.
Biodiesel Today
Biodiesel is created through a chemical reaction involving animal fat or vegetable oil and alcohol. While there are many organic sources for biodiesel, including rapeseed oil, hemp oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, grease, lard, chicken fat, and fish oil, the majority of biodiesel is made with soybean oil. Regardless of the type of matter that constitutes biodiesel, the applications of this alternative fuel are all similar. Biodiesel, or a biodiesel mixture, is used in trains, commercial trucks, passenger vehicles, and is being tested for use in airplanes. Interestingly, biodiesel is also used in heating, both in residential and commercial applications.
The Future of Biodiesel
While biodiesel has huge potential as an alternative fuel source, there are still a lot of unknown factors that need consideration. For instance, one of biodiesel's best qualities is that when mixed with the correct additives it produces 20% less emissions than petroleum. However, one must consider the amount of emissions produced during the transportation and production of the fuel. Similarly, while biodiesel comes from organic ingredients, there could be harm done to the environment through pesticides, fertilizers, erosion issues, and destruction of wildlife habitat. Therefore, it is exceedingly difficult to determine the exact amount of pollution created by biodiesel. Another concerning aspect of this type of alternative fuel is the amount of resources necessary for production. Although these crop and animal components necessary to biodiesel production are renewable, they are not abundant enough to fully replace gasoline, at least in the United States. There is not enough land and irrigation for biodiesel to meet United States energy demands alone. To address this problem, researchers are exploring other avenues of biodiesel cultivation, including algae and bacteria research.
Biodiesel has huge potential as an alternative energy source, particularly because of its renewable nature and lower emission output. Although we are constantly searching for new energy sources or fresh ideas to decrease our petroleum dependency, biodiesel should not be dismissed. With the right technology, cultivation techniques, persistence, and creative thinking biodiesel could possibly be a fuel of the future.
Environmental Testing Corporation Laboratory, or ETC Lab, is a leader in the automotive testing industry, specializing in high altitude vehicle testing, evaporative emissions testing, chassis dynamometer testing, and other engine and vehicle testing services. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sierra_Ramirez |
