While everyone else around us may appear to be selfish or consumed by their own issues, even if this is not the case, we should ensure that we individually take action to protect our planet. Individuals can make a difference and as our transportation methods account for a sizeable part of greenhouse gas emissions, if (as most people) you need a vehicle to get around, consider fuelling it with biodiesel or at least a blend.

Making biodiesel is a realistic option. You need to learn about transesterification. Fundamentally, you will need animal or vegetable oils, also known as triglycerides and work to remove the glycerine. A catalyst, which in this case is lye, helps to combine the remaining fatty acids to create the biodiesel.

A system allowing you to make bio diesel can be established at relatively low cost. You don’t need to be chemically inclined or to worry about burning the house down as you experiment! You can start out small, see how you get along and work up from there. It’s perfectly feasible for you to make biodiesel fuel for your vehicle and those of your family and save good amounts of money from your annual budget.

Some of the basic chemicals that you will need when making biodiesel fuel include methanol. The methanol needs to be almost pure for it to work. You might think the methanol is linked to global warming and it is in a certain way, but it’s used in very much smaller quantities. In terms of emissions, you will definitely be making a difference versus petroleum or petro diesel. The catalyst, lye, should be protected as it can absorb moisture from the atmosphere. Pick up caustic soda or potassium hydroxide and don’t breathe any fumes or get the mixture on your skin.

Start your initial experiments by using regular, over-the-counter canola oil or sunflower oil. Add to your list a blender, receptacles, an accurate scale, a certain type of container (#2 designation), a couple of funnels, a large bottle to use for settling, a thermometer and a bottle to be used for washing the mixture.

Now you have everything you need to start and can begin your journey toward efficiency! With so much to gain, not only ecologically, but also financially and politically, what could be the reason – or reasons, why it’s taking such an incredibly long period of time to make this extraordinary change for the better, for all of us, not just now, but for all of the future generations which will follow as well?

Q. Is Biodiesel experimental?
A.The answer is no, it has been used in Europe in widespread fashion since the 80s and within the United States increasingly so over the last decade. In fact, biodiesel goes back to the 1930s when vegetable oil was first converted into fuel, being perfected during the 1980s.

Q. Does the government accept this alternative fuel?
A. The Clean Air Act, subject to the 1990 modification, recognises biodiesel as the only certified alternative fuel. Further, the EPA authenticates and certifies bio diesel fuel.

Q. Where can I get biodiesel?
A. There are now 14 major production facilities in the US and a number of distribution channels. Across the nation, hundreds and hundreds of small operations cater to locals. As diesel engine cars become more widespread, additional facilities will emerge.

Q. Can I just use conventional vegetable oil instead?
A. Absolutely not, vegetable oil must be converted through transesterification into biodiesel fuel first. Alcohol is used with a catalyst to extract the liquid used as biodiesel.

Q. Does it work in cold weather?
A. Biodiesel does have a tendency to gel in very cold conditions, just as conventional petro diesel. Employ the same precautions when the weather turns particularly cold.

Q. Is this fuel good for the environment?
A. Our planet is plagued by carbon emissions and it is good to know that biodiesel is essentially carbon neutral. Biodiesel is made from vegetable crops and these were previously known as “sinks” for carbon, so the fuel is considerably more advantageous from an environmental perspective than the highly toxic, carbon emitting petroleum we otherwise use.

Q. What about clogged filters?
A. As biodiesel is a solvent, it may act to dissolve some deposits which may have accumulated over time in your tank or within pipes. These deposits could then become trapped in filters and it is advisable to clean or change your filters when you first convert from conventional diesel to biodiesel, making way for a cleaner running, longer lasting engine.

Q. Is it okay to make biodiesel at home?
A. Many people have been successful at making homemade biodiesel. Generally, making biodiesel is not very difficult in and of itself, so long as you take certain safety precautions and make sure that you follow the necessary instructions. It is great for the environment!

Q. As interest in biodiesel increases, will this cause over-harvesting?
A. Biodiesel growth must also be sustainable and must be managed so that harvesting does not cause an imbalance in the availability of agricultural crops, especially as they may represent absorbers of carbon already in our atmosphere. This would be a challenge as things unfold.

1. Emissions.
According to the EPA, biodiesel can have considerable health benefits in comparison to its alternatives. In the case of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas, biodiesel represents a 78% reduction. We should note that the EPA has very recently confirmed that greenhouse gases are indeed hazardous to us.

2. High BTU.
BTU, also known as British thermal units, rank energy output and we know that pure biodiesel has the most effective BTU measurement of all fuels. It is several times more effective than traditional gasoline when we compare the units of fossil fuel energy required to produce an equivalent amount.

3. Think about safety.
Biodiesel has a high combustion point and as such is much safer than traditional alternatives. In its purest form it is biodegradable and is almost completely non-toxic.

4. Promotes less waste.
As biodiesel can be derived from cooking oil thrown out by restaurants, a product created in this way would truly help to turn waste into usable energy. Very often, this waste oil finds its way into our lakes and waterways rather than being correctly disposed of.

5. Can be used without modification.
Biodiesel mixes without any modification with petro diesel. It can be used in any strength or in place of regular diesel. As such it is an option available right now to make your diesel engine vehicles more sustainable.

6. Promotes longer life.
Wouldn’t it be nice to get more life out of your engine – biodiesel employs additional lubricity to ease wear.

7. Help our energy security.
The raw ingredient, soy, is widely available and is one of the most popular domestic crops in the USA. If we can contain production costs within the country where biodiesel is produced, we can shelter our economies from crazy hikes associated with traditional energy forms.

8. Job security?
We have lost so many important jobs to the brutal downturn in the economy. We could direct money for new jobs toward biodiesel fuel production, rather than depleting our revenues, creating jobs overseas by buying petroleum offshore.

9. Benefit the regions.
Regional production of biodiesel can help repair local economies that have been severely damaged during the downturn. Crop producers and farmers can see a new style of return for their work, can feel some element of stability for the future and look for solid growth ahead.

10. It’s better for our health.
While widespread use of biodiesel fuel will certainly lead to fewer greenhouse gases in our environment, helping to reverse climate change and potential environmental damage, it will also emit fewer carcinogens and other cancer-causing components.

We have just seen a considerable number of reasons to justify thinking about making biodiesel for our transportation wants and needs. Create your own trend by mixing a few gallons of homemade biodiesel. You might just start something, but keep in mind, before you get started, always carefully review the “essential safety advice” from the professionals!

What is in it for me to switch over to the use of biodiesel fuel? There are a number of good reasons for doing so and the answers have added credibility now, even compared to only five or 10 years ago. There are now a number of ecological and economical benefits associated with biodiesel, which did not necessarily mean as much to us a number of years back.

Firstly, carbon emissions are now definitely the enemy of the peace. Today, it is very politically correct to be green. We may see government action to force a reduction in the use of conventional fuels, adding a premium to gasoline, for example. The government has also mandated stricter fuel economies and greenhouse gas emissions may well become hazardous pollutants. Biodiesel helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with traditional fuels, by a factor of almost 80%.

Nowadays, homemade biodiesel fuels can use waste products such as leftover cooking oils, helping to cut down on the issues associated with waste disposal. Biodiesel may also be derived from vegetable products, such as soy, which is readily available within our agricultural communities. Turning to this fuel for our transportation means could provide a fantastic shot in the arm to these communities and farmers, as the crops could be used to full advantage.

Alternative fuels such as biodiesel should be considered for our vehicle transportation needs in much greater quantities, and if this occurs, we will not be so vulnerable to the ups and downs associated with oil production prices when manufactured in foreign lands. We now know what regular diesel here in the UK at £5.00 a gallon or $8.00 represents, but five or 10 years ago could not even imagine such a thing. Biodiesel can be made from domestically available sources and can help promote our energy security in no uncertain way.

The US automotive industry is going to change significantly over the next five years and we’re likely to see an influx of European style – smaller, more economical cars. In Europe, more than 50% of the vehicles run on diesel and as such are ready-made to accept biodiesel fuels. There will undoubtedly be a trend in the United States toward the adoption of these types of vehicles, giving further credibility to the thought of making biodiesel widely available through expanding distribution networks. When the next decade ends, biodiesel fuel will be a staple part of all our economies.

Everybody wants to be green these days and we know that we have to cut down on the use of fossil fuels, coal, oil and gas that result in pollutant greenhouse gases and temperature change. Energy is so much a part of our lives and our existence is so complicated, yet we are still mostly unaware of the size of our individual carbon footprints.

The way that we get around – our means of transportation, are for the most part principal emitters of carbon, be they considered individually or as a group. Gasoline and conventional diesel fuel are very expensive commodities and as we mostly rely on foreign sources for these fuels, external influences can directly affect availability, pricing and our very economic security.

It seems that change will be slow to come. We have got to learn how to change our habits and to wean ourselves off our reliance on these fossil fuels, even though our very infrastructure relies so heavily on the sourcing, generation and distribution of these fuels. Unfortunately, the oil industry has a strong political lobbying background and any alternative options face a significant challenge in trying to bring their message to an unaware public.

Biodiesel fuel is an attractive alternative, to say the least. It is produced by mixing vegetable oil or animal fats with methanol and a process of separation derives this alternative fuel. In the United States, biodiesel fuel can be derived from soybean products, with plentiful availability.

Biodiesel is essentially carbon neutral and has very low sulphur rates, especially compared to its alternatives. It can be used in conventional diesel engines without any issues at all and can be mixed in various solutions with petro diesel if required. Such an alternative is not available on a widespread basis at this time, as the infrastructure is simply not in place and distribution solutions undeveloped. We’re becoming more and more aware and interested in hybrid vehicles, and we’re also generating a buzz around biodiesel as an excellent alternative option.

You may be able to consider homemade biodiesel within your household as it is within the reach of most. For some, making biodiesel is more than a labour of love and thousands of people consider it their contribution in the war against carbon emissions. Although making biodiesel can be very rewarding, personally and financially, keep in mind that if you do decide to try making it for yourself, always carefully review what the experts call, “essential safety advice,” before you begin!

In 1990, the revision to the Clean Air Act specified that fuels become more sustainable and that manufacturers begin replacing petro diesel engines with low sulphur alternatives. While certain states in the US had restricted diesel engine vehicle sales, this is likely to lift as the pollution associated with diesel slows. There are other factors to take into consideration and we saw during the terrible events of 2001 how vulnerable we can be to foreign interests and how we rely on such countries for fuel needs. We must look for alternative fuel sources to satisfy our economic, environmental and energy security requirements.

In modern times, diesel engines and their internal components are much more able to cope with low sulphur diesel and biodiesel fuels. These days, biodiesel fuel is starting to gain popular acceptance and production has grown by 700% over the outgoing decade.

Following this recession, the auto industry in the US has significantly changed. Chrysler, one of the big three, is now owned by Fiat of Europe and it is likely that we will see vehicles in the US based on European platforms and much more efficient than of old. Diesel engine cars are very much in evidence in European countries and there is no reason to assume that we will not see a pick-up in sales there as well. This would lead to biodiesel becoming more and more important. While prices may be equitable as compared to conventional diesel, vehicles which operate pure biodiesel or a blend are much better for both the health of our global climate and the people.

Biodiesel is not an experimental fuel as some believe. It has a history going back to the 1930s and has been fully certified by the Environmental Protection Agency. Auto manufacturers welcome the use of biodiesel in their diesel engine vehicles as long as the biodiesel is manufactured to internationally accepted standards, and its use will not void an engine warranty, for example. Indeed, biodiesel has a higher lubricity than petro diesel and will help to ensure the longevity of your engine.

While distribution stations are few and far between, the fuel is yet to gain widespread acceptance. Entrepreneurs should consider production and think about making biodiesel fuel commercially available for all of us. Those who start off making homemade biodiesel could move up to the production of the fuel in their local regions. It is possible to obtain certification from the EPA once you have mastered the task of producing the fuel reliably, and to progress by selling it to an increasingly interested public. Biodiesel is a superb alternative fuel, and it’s certainly an option which could radically change our impact on the Earth, perhaps more quickly than we might realise.

Some people think that they cannot make biodiesel fuel cost effectively or safely, but they are incorrect. Thousands of people can testify to the fuel’s efficiency as they use it during their daily lives. So long as you have a modicum of common sense and take some time to understand the process, you will be able to proceed perfectly well. You do not need a degree in chemistry and will be able to find the ingredients required rather easily.

It’s essential to remember that you should beware of using any overly simplistic advice or a simply written ‘how to,’ like this one that follows, and before actually attempting to make biodiesel, you’ll need to have exacting information of the process itself and all safety requirements:

Making homemade biodiesel requires you to engage in a process called transesterification. You will be using a catalyst (lye) to remove glycerine from vegetable or animal oils or fats and you will effectively be extracting the oil that you can use in your diesel engine.

Use potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, caustic soda and pick up some methanol as well. Note that you will need to keep the lye and the methanol in water tight containers and you should be aiming to use as pure a product as you can.

Measure out 200 mL of methanol into a sturdy plastic container and then add the lye, or caustic soda. All containers, including the plastic bottle should be tightly closed. Shake the container a few times until everything is dissolved.

Preheat the soy or vegetable oil to about 130°F and pour it into a blender. Add the mixture, close and blend for 30 minutes. The resulting mixture should be decanted into a large and strong bottle with a tight lid. You should let this settle for up to 24 hours and will note that the glycerine, a dark colour, settles at the bottom. When this is the case, extract the biodiesel, essentially the top layer into a clean jar, being careful not to get any of the glycerine layer mixed in.

Next you will need to wash your resultant mixture to remove the remaining imperfections by adding clean water, then letting it settle for about four hours or so, and finally allowing the water to drain through a hole in the bottom of your container that you will have made earlier on.

You may have to repeat the process, but when the product is clear, the water will have evaporated and you will have made your first batch of biodiesel fuel! Now that you know that making biodiesel is possible, look into finding more detailed information on the process and get some essential safety advice, before you begin!

We are all becoming very aware how traditional fossil fuels have caused damage and become a great concern for the future. When petroleum is made, greenhouse gases are guaranteed and we now know how this is affecting the planet’s average annual temperature. This type of climate change is leading to results that we can already see and we can be very worried about the problems that could face future generations. Changes must come and we must cut down our reliance on fossil fuels, even though this change is slow to materialise sometimes. We often do not like changes and challenges to the way that we exist and we certainly do not like additional economic costs associated. However, adopting alternative energy production processes and consumption patterns may put us at competitive disadvantage compared to countries that do not.

If we’re slow to act, scientists and environmentalists tell us that harm could become irreversible. Consequently, governments are starting to consider taxation of carbon itself, forcing organisations through market pressures to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and increase their energy efficiency. This could help to balance the playing field for biodiesel fuel. When traditional fuels become more expensive due to this carbon tax, biodiesel fuel will become more attractive.

Society will exert its own pressures and will move toward options that are seen to be far “greener” than they are now. Biodiesel fuels may represent a premium over alternatives and may be more difficult to find, but nevertheless a trend toward them will begin. Ways of making biodiesel will be explored and commercial solutions will begin to spring up in more and more places.

Farmers have been worried about declining demand for their products in recent times. These days, homemade biodiesel can be made from vegetable oils and surplus oils, together with animal fats and soybeans, for example could easily provide the raw material needed to produce the fuel. This in turn would help to keep revenues from the production and sale of fuel within our communities, rather than distributing these revenues overseas. It is sobering to realise that by the 2020s, two thirds of fuel purchased revenues could be lost to foreign countries.

As we enter the new decade, it seems that more and more people and organisations are going to focus on the need to be sustainable. The biodiesel industry should ensure that it’s front and centre to this argument. With so much at stake, not only with respect to the long term financial stability of our country, but also the priceless global sustainability which could be achieved, can any of us really afford to continue to wait until someone in power makes a decision?

The diesel engine was very different to the petrol engine and the diesel worked on the basis of ignition compression. Air enters into the engine cylinder and is compressed when the piston rises, igniting the mixture and emitting power. On the other hand, the petrol engine relies on a spark to explode the fuel mix and requires a backup system of leads, coils and pipes to work.

While the first public demonstration of what was essentially the early “bio diesel” engine occurred in 1900, it was to be the 1930s before modern biodiesel fuel was developed through the conversion of vegetable oils into fatty acid methyl esters.

When times were plentiful there was not much interest in biodiesel as an alternative fuel. Petro diesel was very cheap and the early versions of vegetable oil based fuels were not suitable for the diesel engines of the time. As the vegetable oil was subject to a higher viscosity, experimentation resulted in further development and the emergence of what we now know as biodiesel.

A Belgian inventor came up with a process subsequently termed transesterification in 1937, when he converted vegetable oils as a diesel fuel replacement, but it was to be well into the 1980s before this was perfected due to urgent needs associated with energy security and increased efficiency. The process of transesterification was successfully matched at this time, making biodiesel fuel a real alternative to those concerned about the environment.

Biodiesel first gained widespread acceptance in Europe in the 1990s, due to much higher prices of petro diesel. Biodiesel first went into production in the US in 1996, and during the decade to follow it has become more and more available and the subject of more interest in general.

Our society as a whole has become much more aware of damage caused to our environment through industrial and automotive pollution. While this awareness has been slowly emerging, costs associated with energy production have been rising inexorably. When gas prices reached the peaks in the United States recently, consumers really became aware of sustainability and the need to become more efficient. As petro diesel is now more expensive than conventional gasoline and each method of propulsion eats into a typical household budget, alternatives that are seen to be more beneficial to the environment are gaining acceptance.

The history of biodiesel seems set for an exciting chapter ahead as we focus more on energy security, environmental issues and balancing our budgets. Nowadays, homemade biodiesel is becoming a stepping stone for many as they seek to attain an element of independence and environmental stewardship. It comes down to the simple equation of whether a sustainable fuel solution can be produced at a lesser cost than the readily available alternative, and in this case, biodiesel is most definitely the answer. It’s a real solution, and a way forward.