Is Biodiesel the same thing as raw vegetable oil?
No! Biodiesel can be produced from any fat or vegetable oil (most U.S. biodiesel is made from soy bean oil), through a refinery process called transesterification. All vegetable oils have different properties that make them either a good source for biodiesel or not. Biodiesel can be made from fresh oil or even used cooking oil from restaurants. The transesterification process is a reaction between the oil and alcohol, which removes the glycerin. Glycerin is a by-product of biodiesel production. Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) in order to insure proper performance. Biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 and is legally registered with the Environmental Protection Agency is a legal motor fuel for sale and distribution. Raw vegetable oil cannot meet biodiesel fuel specifications, it is not registered with the EPA, and it is not a legal motor fuel.
A. Biodiesel is not the same as vegetable oil, rather it is produced from any fat or oil such as soybean oil, through a refinery process called transesterification. This process is a reaction of the oil with an alcohol to remove the glycerin, which is a by-product of biodiesel production. Fuel-grade biodiesel must be produced to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751 in the US) in order to insure proper performance. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the 1990 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Air Act Amendments. Biodiesel that meets ASTM D6751 and is legally registered with the Environmental Protection Agency is a legal motor fuel for sale and distribution. Raw vegetable oil cannot meet biodiesel fuel specifications, it is not registered with the EPA, and it is not a legal motor fuel.
