Here's another blurb about biodiesel. Note that B100 means that it's 100% biodiesel with no petroleum in it whatsoever!
PGHI has B100.
IntroductionRudolph Diesel originally designed his 1892 prototypeof the diesel engine to run on a renewable fuel madefrom peanut oil and other vegetable oils. That fuel couldbe produced by the farmers of his day. But petroleum-based distillates of the early 1900s proved to be acheaper, readily available alternative fuel. As a result,the petroleum-based fuel industry became the standard of the world and Diesel’s dream of cheap, renewable fuelwas lost. Fuel shortages in the 1970s, however, re-kindled interest in alternative fuels. Today, as oil pricescontinue to climb, once again, the world’s interest inalternative fuels is stronger than ever. One of the mostpopular fuel alternatives today is biodiesel.Biodiesel is a renewable fuel from natural oils like soy-bean oil, rapeseed oil or animal fats and can be used as asubstitute for diesel fuel. Biodiesel made from vegetableoil or animal fat works just like petroleum diesel, butwith far lower toxic air emissions. It is cleaner burningthan petroleum diesel and has less sulfur content, reduc-ing emissions. It is also made from renewable resourcesso it is less taxing on petroleum supplies. Biodiesel fuelcan be mixed with petroleum diesel fuel at any dilutionlevel to create a biodiesel-blended fuel. Biodiesel refersto the pure fuel before blending. Common nomenclaturefor blended fuel is noted as the percentage of biodiesel inthe blend. B100 is 100% biodiesel. B20 is 20% biodieseland 80% petroleum diesel. Combustion of fossil fuels adds carbon dioxide tothe atmosphere, promoting the buildup of greenhousegases and global warming. Photosynthesis from plantsremoves carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – thereforethe combustion of biodiesel fuel from vegetable-oilfeedstock adds no net carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. In addition to the environmental advantage that biodieselprovides, the U.S. Energy Pollution Act of 1992 and 1998offers tax incentives to users of biodiesel fuel. So, biodieselcan fuel the consumer’s pocketbook as well as his car.Several mechanisms for the conversion of the free fattyacids (lipids) to fatty acid esters have been published.These mechanisms would include saponification,transesterification, hydrolysis and esterification.Esterification is carried out by the reaction of thecarboxylic acids (free fatty acids), alcohol and a catalyst.The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) is the reactiontypically used for manufacturing biodiesel fuel, withwater and glycerin as by-products.Glycerin content can indicate the quality of biodiesel.Glycerin can be in the form of free glycerin or boundglycerin in the form of glycerides. Total glycerin is thesum of free glycerin and bound glycerin. A high contentof free and total glycerin can lead to buildup in fuel tanks,clogged fuel systems, injector fouling and valve deposits.ASTM method D-6751 specifications serve as thebenchmark which identifies the standards that purebiodiesel (B100) must meet before being used as fuelor being blended with petrodiesel. The U.S. NationalBiodiesel Board has adopted the ASTM biodieselspecification and analytical methodology. ASTMrecommends test method D-6584 for the analysis ofglycerin in biodiesel fuel by gas chromatography (GC).
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