Currently, the vast majority of energy used comes primarily from fossil fuels, a highly polluting and non-renewable energy source. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate other less polluting and renewable sources of energy. However, these sources also have their disadvantages.
In this Green Ecology article we will focus on analyzing one of these sources: biodiesel. Keep reading and we will review what biodiesel is, its advantages and disadvantages .
What is biodiesel and what is its origin?
It was in the 1890s that biodiesel began to become popular, with the invention of the diesel engine by German engineer Rudolf Diesel. The diesel engine had a number of advantages over the gasoline engine, one of which was its ability to run on a wide variety of sources, including vegetable oil. In 1900 , during the Paris Exposition, a diesel engine that used peanut oil was exhibited .
This fuel was later called biodiesel and is produced by a transesterification process. This process stimulates chemical reactions in vegetable oil (from crops specially developed for this purpose or from commercial waste) and converts it into fuel for these diesel engines. Other raw materials include palm oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil or even animal fats. However, due to their high production costs, most of this fuel is produced from waste vegetable oil from restaurants, food manufacturing or fast food establishments. Today, developing crops for use as fuel is an industry with great potential, but the high cost of the transesterification process is the main drawback.
Over the past several years, biodiesel use has grown dramatically, increasing from about 25 million gallons of biofuel in early 2000 to more than 2.8 billion in 2016. Based on projected feedstock availability, the industry has set a goal of producing up to 10% of the diesel transportation market by 2022.
What is biodiesel used for?
Biodiesel has many possible uses. Below we will explain the main uses of biodiesel:
Transport
Biodiesel represents a cleaner alternative to the current use of petroleum as a fuel. Other alternatives such as solar or wind energy are not practical for use in transport.
Energy source
Biodiesel cells have applications in energy production such as electricity . This electricity can be used in facilities such as schools, residential areas or hospitals.
According to scientists at Saint Louis University, it is possible to develop a fuel cell using cooking oil and sugar to produce electricity, which can be used to charge everything from computers to mobile phones.
Heat source
Biodiesel can also be used to produce natural gas for heating the home. Unlike using wood to heat the home, biodiesel can reduce nitrogen and sulphur dioxide emissions.
Clean up oil and grease spills
Biodiesel works as a cleaning agent in areas where there is oil pollution in the water. It can also be used as an industrial solvent.
Replacing fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are the predominant energy sources in the world today, but they are running out. The development of biodiesel would make it possible to replace these fuels with renewable sources.
What are the advantages of biodiesel?
In the following section we explain the main advantages of biodiesel :
- Biofuels such as biodiesel are a renewable source of energy , since the crops from which they are produced can be grown again.
- Furthermore, biodiesel and biofuels are carbon neutral , since the carbon produced in their combustion is offset by the carbon absorbed by the crops that produce them.
- Another advantage is that biodiesel is an energy source that does not depend on foreign imports and global markets.
- Biodiesel can be used in existing diesel engines without significant mechanical modifications.
- They are also cleaner and more efficient fuels than fossil fuels, since less hazardous waste is generated during their manufacture.
Disadvantages of biodiesel
One of the disadvantages of biodiesel is that the land used for these crops reduces the amount of land available for growing food. This is a major concern in developing countries, where food must be produced to feed an ever-growing population. In addition, these crops require large amounts of water and fertilizers , which could be used for food production.
Another concern is the effect of monocultures on balanced rural ecosystems. Large areas of monocultures can have a detrimental effect on local flora and fauna.
