Whats the difference between straight vegetable oil (“SVO”) and “biodiesel”?
SVO is just that – nothing but pure vegetable oil. The term “biodiesel” usually refers to alkyl ester (usually methyl ester). These esters are derived from vegetable oil. The sticky glycerine (glycerol) component of the original triglyceride (vegetable oil) is replaced with another alcohol component via the process known as transesterification. Methanol is most often used for this, since it is widely available, the least expensive, and gives a reliable chemical reaction. (Methanol is sometimes called “wood alcohol”, even though it has not been made commercially from renewable sources like wood for many years, but rather from non-renewable natural gas). Even low levels of exposure to methanol, over longer periods of time can be a problem: “Clinically, chronic, low-level exposure to methanol has been seen to cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, ear buzzing, GI disturbances, weakness, vertigo, chills, memory lapses, numbness & shooting pains, behavioral disturbances, neuritis, misty vision
