What is Biodiesel? What are the Benefits?

As it is known, energy is the most important phenomenon that human beings need. The energy issue has an important place in the world. 80% of the world's energy needs are met by fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The combustion of these fuels causes environmental pollution and many negativities. Therefore, renewable environmentally friendly energy sources should be used and this issue should be developed. In this article, we will try to give information about biodiesel, which is an alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel.

Biodiesel is a product obtained by converting animal and vegetable oils into diesel fuel by mixing them with base and alcohol. Waste vegetable and animal oils can also be used as a raw material for biodiesel. Oils collected and obtained from oilseed plants such as rapeseed (canola), sunflower, safflower, soybean, domestic frying oils and animal fats, frozen oils and even used oils in fast-food restaurants can be used as biodiesel raw materials. The process used to convert these oils into Biodiesel is called transesterification. At the end of the process, two main by-products are obtained, glycerine and methyl esters or Biodiesel.

It is biodegradable, less toxic and reduces combustion when fully incinerated. It can be used in pure form (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel. Most of the common blend contains B2 (20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel), B5 (5% biodiesel, 95% petrodiesel) or B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petrodiesel). Biodiesel can be run in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine or fuel system.

In fact, the use of vegetable oils as motor fuel dates back to ancient times. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, showcased his diesel engine, which he ran with peanut oil, at the World Exhibition held in Paris in 1900.

Benefits of biodiesel, which is called the green alternative of the future, are also quite high;

• It is a renewable alternative fuel obtained from animal, vegetable and waste oils.
• It can be used as an equivalent to diesel fuel. It is a fuel that can work in all unmodified diesel engines.
• It produces less carbon output and fewer pollutants than regular petroleum products.
• Contributes to public health thanks to clean combustion products
• Pollutants from gasoline engines create fog when released into the air and make thousands of people sick each year.
• Biodiesel produces less toxic pollutants than other petroleum products.
• Biodiesel cleans the dirt in the engine
• It causes a decrease in dependence on oil and benefits the country economically.
• It creates vast employment opportunities as more crops are grown to produce biodiesel.
• It is a good alternative to exhaustible energy sources
• Biodiesel powered vehicles provide 30% fuel economy compared to petroleum based diesel engines

As everything has a flaw, biodiesel also has disadvantages such as not being suitable for low temperatures, being a bit more costly than standard diesel, and not readily available everywhere. However, considering its contribution to the environment, these seem to be negligible.