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Environmental Benefits of Bio Diesel
With concerns about future supplies of petroleum and the negative effects fossil fuels have on the environment, the search for alternative transportation biofuels has become necessary. One viable alternative is bio diesel. Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel made from domestic renewable sources.
Biodiesel is non toxic free from sulphur and is easy to use. It can be used in diesel engines without any modifications needing to be made to the engines. Biodiesel can be used on its own or blended with petroleum to give increased benefits to the environment, as well as reducing running costs for consumers and transport fleet operators.
A study in 1998 by the US Department of Agriculture found that biodiesel reduced carbon monoxide emissions by 78% compared to petroleum diesel. Pure biodiesel emissions have decreased levels of dangerous compounds that have been linked as potential causes of cancer. Particle emissions linked to diseases like asthma are also significantly decreased, with decreases up to 47% being noted.
In relation to fossil fuels, the amount of greenhouse gasses that biodiesel emits is reduced by as much as 40%. The exhaust emissions of sulphates and Sulphur Oxide-which are major components of acid rain-are all but eliminated when using biodiesel compared to petroleum diesel.
In the past high production costs have made biodiesel unprofitable, but more subsidies are now being made available to help reduce these costs, as it becomes more apparent the benefits that using biodiesel can bring to the environment.
Production of biodiesel creates approximately 95% less hazardous waste than petroleum diesel production but more than double the amount of non-hazardous waste. Large volume biodiesel consumption might raise fears about genetically modified crops, pesticide use, and land-use impacts common to all plant-based fuels.
Common use of biodiesel would require more brand-new plant oils or other waste stream sources to meet greater demands. Crops for biodiesel must be grown in a way that supports the natural habitat, wildlife and takes into consideration the need for food crops, and does not rely on the use of dangerous chemicals, fertilizers or pesticides.
Copyright Clipp.org
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