BIO DIESEL

[LaurGar]

Is bio diesel a type of green diesel? Sorry, I'm looking for ideas for a science fair project and thought that I would check this out. Does it help the earth?

[djschlesinger]

Hi LaurGar,

Yes, I would classify biodiesel as a "green" diesel. It's made from old vegetable oils or animal fats and burns cleaner and produces less CO2 than standard petrodiesel (diesel made from petroleum oil). So I would consider it green for several reasons:

1. It recycles waste products (used vegetable oil and animal fats).
2. It produces less harmful emissions (such as carbon monoxide) when burned.
3. It releases less CO2 than petrodiesel when burned.

As far a science project is concerned, it might be difficult to develop a project around biodiesel. If you know someone who drives a truck or car with a diesel engine you might be able to determine if biodiesel is as efficient as petrodiesel, meaning can you obtain the same or better miles per gallon with biodiesel as you can with petrodiesel. Most diesel engines can handle biodiesel without problems, however you should always check with the manufacturer first. Also, it might be difficult to find a gas station that sells biodiesel.

I hope this helps.

-Dave

[LaurGar]

Thanks!
-LaurGar