Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a renewable, efficient, environmentally friendly and biodegradable fuel made from vegetable oil, including waste cooking oil. In the United States, soybean oil is the principal oil being utilized for biodiesel. Animal fats, oils and greases generated in the food industry and restaurants can be recovered by interceptors and traps as a feedstock for biodiesel. Insect fat has also been proposed as a promising resource for biodiesel production. Biodiesel can be blended with conventional petrodiesel in any proportion (even 1% biodiesel will increase engine lubrication by 65%) for use in vehicles with an unmodified diesel engine. Unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter are substantially reduced in the exhaust fumes, up to 75% cleaner than petrodiesel made from fossil fuels. Sulphur dioxide emissions are eliminated as biodiesel contains no sulphur. It has significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions particularly in the trucking industry. In Canada canola oil is produced in massive quantities for domestic marketing. A large amount goes through restaurant deep fryers and must be disposed of after a few days of use. The federal government provides, through the Sustainable Development Technology Canadas NextGen Biofuels Fund, ongoing support in the development of advanced renewable biofuels. Annually, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association presents the Green Fuels Award to honour pioneers in the development, commercialization and promotion of low carbon renewable fuels. In Ontario, biodiesel is exempted from the provincial tax of 14.3 cents per liter. The largest biodiesel plant, Great Lakes Biodiesel Inc. located in Well and, produces 45 million gallons of ASTM 6751 quality biodiesel made from vegetable oils.

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Last date updated on September, 2024