Outdoor Japan What is Bio Diesel? Bio Diesel Fuel (BDF) represents a renewable natural energy source which, as an alternative to fossil fuels (light oil), makes use of botanical oil as a raw material. The environmental impact of BDF is comparatively less than light oil and, because the exhaust, only contains the CO2 plants have absorbed; bio diesel boasts a carbon neutral emission rating.

Considering fossil fuels will eventually dry up, the availability of renewable energy sources such as this clean, eco-friendly form of energy becomes all the more important. Here are a few of the unusual characteristics of BDF.

1. The CO2 found in used cooking oil has already been absorbed from the atmosphere by the soybeans and seeds used to create it. Therefore, using cooking oil as a fuel source results in no net increase in CO2.
2. Exhaust fumes from bio diesel contain virtually no sulfur oxide, known to be a causal agent in childhood asthma and eczema. Additionally, BDF exhaust fumes contain less than one-third the unhealthy smog of fossil fuels.
3. BDF can be used in commercially sold diesel vehicles without any special adjustments.
4. Vehicles using BDF maintain fuel efficiency and performance similar to light oil.
5. You can completely avoid gas taxes by using bio diesel.

How do you make bio diesel?

Before you start, contact a respected bio diesel company such as SEBEC and make sure you have the equipment necessary to safely make bio diesel fuel. You’ll find that one-hundred liters of used cooking oil yields about 90 liters of BDF. A device is needed to add the correct amounts of methanol and an alkali catalyst to cause the necessary chemical reactions. You can then remove the bio diesel (methyl ester). Next, cleanse the BDF using the proper equipment, and you will have an eco-friendly, renewable energy for your next road trip.

Bio diesel information courtesy of SEBEC (www.sebec.co.jp).

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