Biodiesel is a
form of diesel fuel manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled
restaurant greases. It is safe, biodegradable, and produces less air pollutants
than petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel is meant to be used in standard diesel
engines and is thus distinct from the vegetable and waste oils used to fuel
converted diesel engines. Biodiesel can be used Biodiesel can be used in pure
form, or blended with petrodiesel in any proportions. Biodiesel blends can also
be used as heating oil. It also can be
obtained from Pongamia, field pennycress and jatropha and other crops such as
mustard, jojoba, flax, sunflower, palm oil, coconut and hemp. Multiple economic
studies have been performed regarding the economic impact of biodiesel
production. One study, commissioned by the National Biodiesel Board, reported
the 2011 production of biodiesel supported 39,027 jobs and more than $2.1
billion in household income. Many countries around the world are involved in
the growing use and production of biofuels, such as biodiesel, as an
alternative energy source to fossil fuels and oil. The surge of interest in
biodiesels has highlighted a number of environmental effects associated with
its use. These potentially include reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation,
pollution and the rate of biodegradation. However, environmental organizations,
for example, Rainforest Rescue and Greenpeace, criticize the cultivation of
plants used for biodiesel production; they say the deforestation of rainforests
exacerbates climate change and that sensitive ecosystems are destroyed to clear
land for oil palm, soybean and sugar cane plantations. Moreover, that biofuels
contribute to world hunger, seeing as arable land is no longer used for growing
foods.
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Crops for biodiesel production
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Biodiesel production from waste vegetables
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Biodiesel production from municipal waste
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Biodiesel as automobile fuel
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Cost effective techniques for biodiesel
production
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Enzymatic biodiesel production
§ Biodiesel as automobile fuel and Market
opportunities
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Biodiesel production on industry level and scale
up