What are the environmental benefits of biodiesel?
Environmental benefits in comparison to petroleum based fuels include: · Biodiesel reduces emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) by approximately 50 % and carbon dioxide by 78 % on a net lifecycle basis because the carbon in biodiesel emissions is recycled from carbon that was already in the atmosphere, rather than being new carbon from petroleum that was sequestered in the earth’s crust. · Biodiesel contains fewer aromatic hydrocarbons: 56 % reduction of benzofluoranthene; 71 % reduction of benzopyrenes. · It also eliminates sulfur emissions (SO2), because biodiesel does not contain sulfur. · Biodiesel does produce more NOx emissions than petrodiesel, but these emissions can be reduced through the use of catalytic converters. The increase in NOx emissions may also be due to the higher cetane rating of biodiesel. Properly designed and tuned engines may eliminate this increase. · Biodiesel has higher cetane rating than petrodiesel, and therefore ignites more rapidly when injected into the e
A. Biodiesel is made from sustainable and renewable resources therefore reducing the social and economic pressure on petroleum oil supplies. Using biodiesel is a way that individuals and businesses can reduce their carbon footprint – the amount of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of energy used.
