Biodiesel an Alternative Source of Fuel - Research Paper Example

? Biodiesel an Alternative Source of Fuel Task Biodiesel an Alternative Source of Fuel Introduction Relying on one source of fuel is not sustainable as its reduction may inhibit human life and the industries that require the fuel to run the machines. It is advisable to have an alternative source of fuel to curb the problems that arises due to depletion of the source of fuel in use. Due to the emergence of many industries involved in converting “raw materials into finished goods”, biodiesel proves to be an alternative source of fuel to suit the operations of the existing and emerging industries (Kowalski, 2010). This fuel is also suitable for diesel vehicles. Biodiesel is a kind of energy generated from fats or vegetable oils combined with alcohol (Kowalski, 2010). This fuel is ideal for diesel engines, as it does not require the modifications of the engines for its use. The United States of America generates this fuel by using soybean oil. Many companies prefer to generate this fuel from already used fats and at times use grease. Biodiesel is effective, as one may prefer mixing it with diesel or use it alone. Biodiesel is ideal during its use as it is friendly to the environment and nontoxic. It is a recyclable fuel. Biodiesel tend to burn cleanly with minimal chocking smell and emits an insignificant portion of smoke. This fuel is not a source of pollution as it emits insufficient amounts of pollutants such as “carbon (1V) Oxide and hydrocarbons and no sulfur” is contained in this substitute source of fuel (Kowalski, 2010). During its preparation, filtration of the fats or oils extensively is necessary to remove the contaminants and water present. Biodiesel contains high amounts of energy and its accurate tackiness makes it apposite for use in all vehicles and equipment that require diesel. In order to realize energy liberty, Biodiesel is the initiative to take and follow (Kowalski, 2010). Preparing Biodiesel Transesterification is the procedure of coming up with biodiesel. This process involves a chemical reaction thus a catalyst is necessary to augment the speed of reaction. Since the fats and oils are hydrocarbons, filtration is a prerequisite to clean them. After they are clean, alcohol is added to the mixture and a catalyst introduced. Sodium hydroxide is the preferred catalyst to speed up its manufacture. The catalyst does not become part of fuel in any way. The resulting product of the chemical reaction is biodiesel fuel (Demirbas, 2008). Biodiesel has become popular as heating oil in many countries with many residents of the United States using this fuel in place of household oil. Letter “B” comes along with a certain number to mark it. The number represents the percentage of this fuel in a mixture of petroleum and biodiesel. For example, a combination of 30% biodiesel and 70% petroleum is denoted as B30. B20 is the most popular biodiesel globally. Compared to the fossil fuels, biodiesel emits fifty percent less hydrocarbon and minimum amounts of sulfates and oxides (Demirbas, 2008). Over the past twenty years, biodiesel has proved to be a substitute fuel. It offers preventive measures of handling and transporting as its biodegradable. To eliminate low temperature gelling, additives are readily available in the market. The companies announce on a gel additive that blends well with B100 to prevent gelling of temperature without altering the engine components. To maintain the stability of the fuel, recommendations are that blends of biodiesel above B20 to be used not more than six months after its production. Uses of fuel functions optimally above B20 in older vehicles, precautions are necessary due to deposits left by petrol diesel. Biodiesel dissolves the sediments that in turn obstruct the fuel sift. “Positive Impacts of Biodiesel on the Environment” Biodiesel as an alternative source of fuel offers some positive impacts on the human health as well as the environment. The largest impact made by this fuel on the environment is that it serves to reduce smog. Diesel fuel contributes largely to air pollution due to the “unburnt hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides” present in it (Ganduglia, 2009). Using a biodiesel product immensely minimizes the amounts of hydrocarbons especially when using the perfect blend for the machine in use. Research on biodiesel has proved that the emissions of hydrocarbon from biodiesel are half of those emitted by constant use of diesel fuel (Ganduglia, 2009). The continuous use of biodiesel produces vast amounts of energy to the environment compared to the energy derived from burning fossils. Nearly four energy units are gained for every unit of biodiesel manufactured. Biodiesel has a substantial environmental impact as it serves to reduce acid rain. The majority of acid rain components are the oxides of sulfur. The overall emissions of these oxides during manufacture of biodiesel are eight percent lower upon comparison to those emitted from manufacture of diesel fuel. It also serves to reduce wastewater in the environment, since its manufacture produces seventy-nine percent of wastewater, which is lower, compared to the wastewater derived from production of petroleum diesel. Biodiesel helps to make a difference to human health, as its emissions are less destructive thus can’t cause lung cancer and asthma. Research shows that the emissions derived during manufacture of biodiesel have no presence of aromatic compounds, which are the main causes of lung cancer. The more refined the biodiesel is the less the probability of emitting the compounds responsible for causing cancer. Biodiesel decreases the toxic compounds associated with diesel fuel by over eighty-five percent when used (Ganduglia, 2009). In addition to biodiesel, it emits less soot. Research has proved that biodiesel reduces the amount of soot in a vehicle exhaust pipe by over eighty-four percent. Soot constitutes of “one hundred percent carbon” and is evident in petroleum diesel. Suggestions are that soot derived from diesel triggers cancer. Its worth saying that biodiesel makes a massive difference for the environment. For instance, by only burning two percent of biodiesel fuel on a vehicle that typically uses diesel fuel eliminates all possible kinds of unhealthy releases. In one year, this action is capable of reducing harmful carbon emissions by over thirty five million pounds. Additionally, it serves to reduce the hydrocarbon emissions responsible for the formation of the ozone layer by nearly four million pounds. This action has the potential of reducing harmful emissions of diesel and sulfur oxides emissions that cause acid rain by close to three million pounds (Ganduglia, 2009). “Negative Impacts of Biodiesel on the Environment” However, the use of Biodiesel has several concerns for the environment. The main problem of using this alternative source of fuel is biodiversity loss. Environmentalists fear that animal and wild plants habitats are lost by acquiring more land to produce more crops for manufacture of this fuel. Some of the Asian countries are willing to do away with the rainforests to allow for more oil plantations. This is a serious concern for environmentalists as far as production of biodiesel s concerned. It is worth concluding that production of this fuel will disrupt the flora and fauna due to the interference of the environment since the animals will be forced to look for other habitats in order to survive. Thus, its production will negatively interfere with the habitats of many species (Whiteman & Cushion, 2010). A major concern for production of this fuel is it forces farmers to be more lucrative. It will force the farmers to grow crops specifically for Biodiesel production rather than food production. The decrease in food production will lead to increased price levels thus causing inflation. Consumers will feel inflation, as they will pay exorbitant amounts of money for food. Although this problem of inflation will be countered by the use of, biofuels that use biomass waste, this will also pose a large impact on the organisms’ habitats. In developing countries, the impact caused by reduced food production is considerably high, and estimates of one million people are at risk fuelled by increased price levels of food. Another major concern of biodiesel production is that it lacks sustainability. Biofuels associated with the initial generation exude lessened levels of sustainability. It is appropriate to create biodiesel production, which is sustainable, and does not have an impact on production of food as well as causing environmental problems. Although investigations prove that burning of biodiesel considerably reduces “emissions of Carbon (IV) Oxide”, studies by Britain scientists confirmed that burning of corn contributes to toxic emissions of nitrous oxides (Whiteman & Cushion, 2010). Why I Chose Biodiesel The reason I chose biodiesel as a substitute source of fuel is that it has tremendous safety benefits compared to other sources of fuel. It causes less damage compared to petrol diesel when spilled to the environment since it is non-toxic. It is safer to use, as it is less flammable. Biodiesel is even safe to transport and handle. Some of the benefits associated with Biodiesel are that it can be locally produced and burns cleanly and serves as a perfect replacement for petroleum diesel. The continued use of biodiesel creates a healthy environment for human health due to reduced emissions. Limiting Factors towards Increasing Biodiesel use in the Society One of the limiting factors associated with fabrication of Biodiesel is water availability. Arguments are that there is not enough water to sustain production of Biodiesel. Secondly, other arguments suggest that even if water is largely available and abundant, human consumption and production of food are the first priority. Thirdly, intensive use of water for producing biodiesel on a large scale causes an impact on the environment that is unsustainable (Pahl, 2008). Another limiting factor for the increased use of Biodiesel in the society is due to its high cost. It is one cent more than petroleum diesel. The B5 type of biodiesel is five cents more expensive compared to petrol diesel. If the costs decline, there will be a high demand for biodiesel. The higher costs associated with biodiesel will not influence the society to use this product since the cost of food is still high. Inflation, which is caused, by elevated price levels of food will tend to decrease the usage of biodiesel in the society. The quality of biodiesel will be a challenge to its increased use in the society (Pahl, 2008). Low quality of biodiesel produced will influence consumer acceptance. If a product is low quality as indicated by experts, consumers will have a negative attitude towards the product thus influencing its use by the society both locally and globally. For a product to be wholly acceptable by the consumers, it must prove to be of high quality, thus influencing its demand in the society. Sometimes, inflation becomes a hindering factor towards increasing biodiesel use in the society. Increased price levels of commodities will hinder the demand of a product. If the prices remain high they will have an effect towards demand of a product. It is worth denoting that high prices will be a limiting factor towards increasing the use of fuel in the society thus proving to be a hindrance. Diagrammatic Representation References Demirbas, A. (2008). Biodiesel: a realistic fuel alternative for diesel engines. New York: Springer, 2008. Ganduglia, F. (2009). Handbook on Biofuels. New York, NY: ARPEL Kowalski, M. (2010). Alternative Energy Sources. New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish, 2010. Pahl, G. (2008). Biodiesel: growing a new energy economy. New York: Chelsea Green Publishing Whiteman, A., & Cushion, E. (2010). Bioenergy development: issues and impacts for poverty and natural resource management. New York: World Bank Publications Read More