Biodiesel Versus Petrodiesel - What You Need To Know

Across the globe, the topic of biodiesel fuel use has been receiving a great deal of attention especially recently when there is growing concern that our fossil fuel reserves are being depleted at a much faster rate than new ones are created and as the effects of global warming are felt more strongly than ever. Among the many questions that consumers have about biodiesel include its major differences with petroleum diesel, its reliability, and whether it is safe to use or not. Below are some of the notable differences between the two fuels.;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy9fr5Zmy2k&feature=related]

Biodiesel Fuel Vs. Petroleum Diesel

Biodiesel is a liquid fuel used on diesel engines and it is created by chemically processing vegetable oil so it can perform more like petrodiesel. At present, the raw ingredients commonly used for biodiesel production would be soy beans and corn. Even waste vegetable oil from the food service industry is utilized in biodiesel production. Contrary to what some people say, it is not possible to use raw and waste vegetable oils in engines directly. They have to be processed first to become usable esters. Biodiesel in essence is produced through farming methods or used oil recycling. Petrodiesel in contrast is sourced from crude oil which is a kind of fossil fuel that can be extracted from the ground or beneath the sea floor through oil drilling methods.

In terms of molecular size, biodiesel and petroleum diesel are similar, but they differ greatly in chemical structure being that the former contains mostly fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) while the latter contains mostly saturated hydrocarbons. The differences in terms of chemical composition and structure bring about a number of variations as well in terms of the performance and properties of the two fuels. For example, biodiesel has higher lubricity in comparison to petroleum diesel and as such is more effective at preventing premature wear and tear in an engine's mechanical components.

In addition to that, it generally has no sulfur content which means it does not contribute as much to pollution compared to petrodiesel. Biodiesel contains more oxygen than petrodiesel too and this is also makes it less polluting to the environment, but also results to a slight dip in maximum engine power.

It is also much more chemically active as a solvent than petroleum diesel and consequently may require more frequent replacement of rubber fuel system components in older cars. Then again, most of the vehicles today have parts which can resist this corrosive quality of biodiesel. In comparison to petrodiesel, biodiesel has a higher likelihood of crystallization in very cold temperatures and this can be a problem when driving during winter.

Although there are attributes of biodiesel which can lead to issues for older engines, most of the biodiesel blends available in the market have additives which address these, for instance, there are corrosion inhibitors and cold-flow improvers.


Are you familiar with the fact that biodiesel can be made from used cooking oil? Learn more about biodiesel production and the properties of this alternative fuel by clicking here waste recycling.