Biofuels and Bioenergy

Biodiesel

Biodiesel such as fresh and old vegetable oil and animal fat, is used to make biodiesel, a cleaner alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel. By mixing vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled cooking grease with alcohol, biodiesel is produced. The fuel is biodegradable and harmless. In a compression ignition (diesel) engine, biodiesel is used similarly to petroleum-based diesel. The blend ratio for biodiesel can be adjusted, from B100 (pure biodiesel) to B20 (the most common mixture) (a blend containing 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel).