What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel, while equivalent to a petroleum diesel, is derived from biological sources. Biodiesel is a completely natural, renewable fuel applicable in most any situation where conventional petroleum diesel is used. Even though "diesel" is part of its name, there are no petroleum or other fossil fuels in biodiesel. Biodiesel is 100% vegetable oil based. This includes soybean, canola, palm, as well as, used cooking oil (also known as yellow grease).

Northern Biodiesel believes that in the future, biodiesel feedstock's will be from other sources such as algae. We are currently working with partner companies to explore and develop these potentials. In fact, experts believe in the comparison that algal is to biodiesel as cellulosic is to ethanol.

Biodiesel Blending:

Biodiesel fuel is a direct substitute for petroleum diesel. Northern Biodiesel is able to produce ASTM 6751 certified biodiesel. Our facility has the capacity to blend biodiesel to any percentage with petroleum diesel.

On Road Fuel: This fuel is available for all users and is subject to local, State and Federal taxes.

Off Road Fuel: This fuel is available for most construction vehicles, farm vehicles and other approved users.

Home Heating Oil: Biodiesel is also used for home heating oil and is most often used as a 100% blend.

 

 

Biodiesel Blends

Biodiesel's chemical composition allows it to be blended with any kind of diesel fuel (distillate). Blending biodiesel into petroleum diesel is a way to minimize property differences while retaining some of the benefits of 100% biodiesel. Higher blend levels promote faster biodegradation should a spill occur. A biodiesel/petroleum blended level above 20% (B20) can provide higher emission reduction benefits.

TYPE PERCENT OF BIODIESEL PERCENT OF PETROLEUM
B100
100% biodiesel
0% petroleum
B50
50% biodiesel
50% petroleum
B20
20% biodiesel
80% petroleum
B10
10% biodiesel
90% petroleum
B5
5% biodiesel
95% petroleum
B2
2% biodiesel
98% petroleum

What are the environmental advantages for using Biodiesel?

  1. reduces major greenhouse gas components in the atmosphere
  2. it is biodegradable and non-toxic
  3. higher octane rating than petrodiesel
  4. improves performance and cleans up emissions compared to crude petrodiesel

The use of biodiesel will also reduce the following emissions:  

  • carbon monoxide
  • ozone-forming-hydrocarbons
  • hazardous diesel particulate
  • acid rain-causing sulfur dioxide
  • lifecycle carbon dioxide
  • aromatic hydrocarbons

New Developments in Biodiesel:

Extracting biodiesel from algae is a fantastic possibility for resolving the energy crisis in our nation. Current research into efficient algal-oil production is primarily being done in the private sector. Using algae to make biodiesel may be the only possible way to produce the necessary quantity of automotive fuel needed to replace the existing gasoline usage in the world.

Compared to land based agricultural crops, microalgae grows significantly faster. Algae can feasibly yield 5,000-20,000 gallons of oil per acre of algae annually. This is 7 to 31 times greater than the next best crop, palm oil (635 gallons).

The process of creating biodiesel from algal-oil is comparable to that of land-based crops. The methods used to extract oil are similar, in fact, to those used in the food-industry.One such method, hexane extraction, is what makes the production of algal biodiesel efficient. Finding an algal strain with a high lipid content, as well as a rapid rate of growth, is currently an issue. A cost-effective cultivation system (i.e., type of photobioreactor) that is particularly suitable for the specific algal strain will also be important.


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