Biodiesel Distillation
The Advantages of Biodiesel Distillation
The search for non-fossil alternative fuels has been conducted now for more than a decade. The impetus for this search has increased in more recent years mainly due to the talk of supposed global warming; the incidence of which is increased by the release of CO2 into the atmosphere by fossil fuels. Because of the Kyoto protocols, one of the primary processes being perfected is that of making biodiesel. This type of diesel can be made from any type of fat or oil, but there are problems associated with its production and use. To mitigate these issues, firms have begun using a distillation process which, in most ways, fixes the problems that have commonly been associated with biodiesel. The following paper discusses what biodiesel is, how the fuel is made, what the distillation process is, and what advantages distilled biodiesel has over non-distilled biodiesel.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel was required as one of the products that would be further developed by companies, and be used in increasing amounts by all agreeing nations. "The 'Kyoto Protocol' -- which is the United Nations framework convention on climactic change -- requires the introduction of biofuels into the transport fuel market in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions" (Lurgi). This charge was specifically in relation to all biofuels, but biodiesel has been the prominent result of this part of the agreement. The protocols provided the impetus for the sustainable fuels industry to really make usable biofuels.
The fuel itself is formulated to emulate fossil fuel diesel, but it does not contain the same harmful properties. "Biodiesel is a biodegradable ester that does not contain the dangerous element sulfur. In addition, the plants from which the vegetable oils are produced, capture more CO2 from the atmosphere than the amount that these oils release during their combustion" (Matallana, Gutierrez & Cardona). It is worth noting that these are two advantages of biodiesel in general. Because much of the fuel is...
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