Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from all renewable materials. It does not contain petroleum, but petroleum can be mixed in to produce a biodiesel blend that can be used in a variety of cars. The pure biodiesel fuel can only be used in diesel engines. Since biodiesel is made from renewable resources it is very safe for the environment and doesn't emit high emissions like traditional fuels. By using biodiesel the country can become less dependent on foreign oil supplies and start using resources within the U.S. to create the alternative oil. With products grown in the U.S. it makes it so our country doesn't have to involve politics with other countries and the money goes right back in the U.S. economy. At the moment the cost of biodiesel fuel is a little more expensive than traditional fuel, but that's just because there is not a great demand for it. The price will drop once more people want biodiesel. The cheapest way to get biodiesel fuel is by making it at home.
Biodiesel can be produced from a variety of resources such as soybeans and vegetable oil. This fuel can be used to power cars, trains and airplanes and it can even be used as heating oil. One way people are creating biodiesel fuel is from chicken feathers. Since America has such a large demand for poultry products, the poultry industry ends up wasting 11 billion pounds of waste accumulates annually. Scientist in Nevada were able to create a new process that develops biodiesel fuel from 'chicken feather meal' and the process is environmentally friendly as well. Currently the feather meal is used as animal feed and as a fertilizer, but it has the potential to be an alternative fuel. The 12% of fat content in the chicken feather meal was extracted by using boiling water and it was successfully processed in biodiesel. "Stats tell us that if we take into account the amount of feather meal generated by the poultry industry each year, researchers could produce 153 million gallons of biodiesel annually in the U.S. and 593 million gallons worldwide." (Alternative Energy, Fuel From Chicken Feathers?)
Many people are getting creative with things they are making biodiesel fuel out of like hemp, algae, garbage, and waste glycerin. That's the great thing about biodiesel because it can be made out of a lot of resources. We need to switch to alternative energies now because the oil supplies aren't going to be around forever and our addiction to oil has caused global warming and many other issues. People are becoming more creative with making alternative energy and they are developing ideas that have never been seen before. It's now your chance to become creative and find new ways to help our world. By developing new technologies the U.S. can come out on top and finally become an independent country that runs on clean energy.
http://www.biodieselathome.net/
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/fuel-from-chicken-feathers
http://www.biodieselathome.net/
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/fuel-from-chicken-feathers
Lindsey this is so interesting. Biodiesel sounds like such a good idea. I know of a family who uses it here in town and they have had no complaints yet! If we could all find a way to switch to a different sources whether it be; electric, biodiesel, wind, or solar, we could really benefit economically and keep our planet from "collapsing".
ReplyDeleteCan biodiesel be used in any diesel engine? It is very interesting that biodiesel can be made from chicken feather meal! Its amazing how much we as society waste (such as food and water), especially in the US. When innovations like this are founded, we get one step closer to living in a better and sustainable world. Great job Lindsey!
ReplyDeleteBio-diesel is a great option because that way no one has to completely switch their cars. If they have diesel engines than they can just use bio diesel, and petroleum can be added into it! No one should be opposed to this, great post!
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, Katrina's father makes his own biodiesel by gathering the grease and fats and all that leftover junk from fastfood restaurants. He then puts it through his own contraption, and wah lah! Biodiesel! Hopefully she will explain this better then I, but all i know is it saves money and emissions! It's definitely a win win situation.
ReplyDeleteYay biodiesel! I think this is an awesome way for America to get involved and grow the soybeans or make the vegetable oil needed in biodiesel. And also use all the things we waste. I think this is a great way to get off petroleum. But how easy is it to convert peoples' cars. Do you need to get a whole new engine?
ReplyDeleteI think that biodiesel is the way to go! It's really cool how biodiesel is produced like from soybeans and vegetable oil. I also really like the part about how you said it can be used to power cars, trains and airplanes and heating oil. I was also wondering the same kind of thing that Cody said about if it can be used in any diesel engine? The part about the chicken feathers being used for biodiesel is pretty cool because like you said there is so much being wasted and if it can be used for something like this then that is better then just getting thrown away.
ReplyDeleteIf its such a great alternative, then why hasn't it become more popular? I'm guessing its needs more advertising and big business support. Say if Wal-Mart used only biodiesel in their trucks it would help the environment and other companies might catch on.
ReplyDeleteI think that we should start to use all kinds of renewable sources of energy; and this is a great one! But I think people we be overwhelmed if we make the switch quickly. If biodiesel can be mixed with the fuel we have now, then we should do that for a while so that people can get use to it. By doing this it might not be as expensive if people can slowly convert their cars instead of having to do it all at once.
ReplyDeleteI agree with gabby! Nobody should be opposed. Instead of wasting this we can use it to our advantage. If more people knew about how it worked and how to do it i bet more would change.
ReplyDeleteRight on Lindsey! Biodiesel is such a great alternative. My dad has someone come to the House of Pizza and pick up the leftover stuff and they make it into biodiesel.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yeah Matt my dad does make it, but from vegetable oil he gets from restaurants around town, like McSeagulls. In our basement is the machine that makes it and I've watched him do it before. Other then the machine, he uses household items like hosiery to strain it and other cost efficient items.
ReplyDeleteCody, I just read a couple of days ago that any diesel vehicle can use biodiesel with little to no modification to the engine at all. I was wondering why more people don't use it, and why isn't widely known about?
ReplyDeleteChewonki produces biodiesel for their vehicles. They use used vegetable oil from businesses, such as Sea Basket in Wiscasset. Sea Basket would otherwise have to pay a disposal company to remove the vegetable oil. Chewonki benefits while saving Sea Basket that expense.
ReplyDeleteJust the other night I watched a show on these college kids who just changed over a normal car into a biodiesel vehicle, going on a road trip. To get to their destination, they must stay in populated areas so they could fill up on vegetable oil. I think this is awesome, and also helps out the restaurants. Instead of paying that disposal fee, you could reuse it.
ReplyDeleteI like Annie's idea of having a big company, like Wal-Mart or whatnot, switch to biodiesel and hopefully other companies would realize that it's a good idea and join in! It's like a chain reaction and it's good for the environment too! Great post Linds!
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