Biodiesel is produced from these feedstocks through a process called transesterification, by reacting the oil with an alcohol and a catalyst. Biodiesel is made entirely from renewable resources such as soybeans, sunflowers, rapeseed and palm oil as well as waste vegetable oil.
It can be purchased directly from biodiesel producers and marketers, petroleum distributors, or at a handful of public pumps throughout the nation. What makes biodiesel also an ideal alternative is that it is biodegradable and non-toxic. The vegetable oil can be fresh or virgin oil made from soybeans, corn, mustard, flaxseed, and sunflower oil.
The process to make biodiesel is relatively easy too. Biodiesel is defined as mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats which conform to specifications for use in diesel engines. There are kits available to convert diesel engines that have problems with burning biodiesel.
It's also biodegradable and non-toxic, which makes it a more environmentally friendly alternative. One thing is for sure, first generation biofuels once thought to be the alternative fuel source of the future, have come under increased scrutiny recently.
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