| Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning, renewable diesel fuel made from plant oils, recovered greases, and animal fats instead of from petroleum. In its pure form or blended with petroleum diesel, biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine with little or no modification. Blends are designated BXX, where the XX denotes the percentage of biodiesel in the blend. In order to be considered biodiesel, fuel must meet the national quality specification, ASTM D 6751. Biodiesel users experience similar miles per gallon, torque, and power as conventional diesel. Biodiesel is typically made from fresh soybean oil, rendered poultry waste, tallow, and recycled fryer oil (sometimes known as “yellow grease”). These fats and oils go through a chemical process that changes the oil molecules into biodiesel. Biodiesel is totally different from ethanol (which is made from corn and used in modified gasoline engines) and SVO (straight vegetable oil, or crude used vegetable oil which some individuals use directly in a modified diesel vehicle). More information on biodiesel can be found at the National Biodiesel Board including where to buy biodiesel, and general fact sheets. Click here to learn more about biodiesel’s advantages. |
