Government agencies such as the National Park Service use biodiesel in buses serving Yellowstone.
Here you will find frequently asked questions (FAQs) on biodiesel.
QWhat is biodiesel?
ABiodiesel is a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. It meets the requirements of ASTM D6751 and in its pure form is designated B100.
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QWhat is renewable diesel?
ARenewable diesel fuels are used in diesel engines in place of or blended with petroleum diesel, but are made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, or other types of biomass such as grasses and trees. Biodiesel is an example of a renewable diesel fuel. Biodiesel is manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled restaurant greases, which are all renewable. E-diesel is a blend of ethanol and diesel fuel with other chemicals. The ethanol portion of E-diesel is renewable because it is made from grains like corn. Another renewable diesel fuel is Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel. Fischer-Tropsch diesel is made from coal and natural gas today, but in the future we could make it out of grasses, trees, or anything organic. All these renewable diesel fuels can be used instead of petroleum diesel fuel to help reduce our petroleum imports, reduce our air pollution, and improve our nation's economy.
Last Reviewed: October 17, 2007
QWhere can I find a list of publicly traded companies that produce biodiesel?
AMost U.S. biodiesel producers are members of the National Biodiesel Board trade association. If you go to the list of suppliers under "Buying Biodiesel" on the association's Web site you should find most of the U.S. producers.
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QCan I produce my own biodiesel on a small scale?
ABiodiesel can be produced on a small scale from an appropriate vegetable oil or animal fat source, but it is critical to rigorously meet prescribed fuel specifications to avoid damaging the engine. The actual prescribed standards may be purchased from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The National Biodiesel Board is a good source for consultants and current producers.
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QWhere can I find information on manufacturing plants and the biodiesel process in general?
AAn NREL subcontractor report speaks to this, and is an excellent starting point (see below).
In Addition, there is a well-developed biodiesel industry. You can find a lot of information on their trade association Web site (see below).
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Last Reviewed: October 22, 2007
QWhat are the results of the research programs and studies on microalgae for biodiesel production?
ADOE and NREL studied the possibility of using microalgae to produce oil for biodiesel in the 1980s and early 1990s, but shut the program down in the mid 1990s. A close-out report (see below) on the program summarizes program research and findings up to that point.
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