Why is biodiesel not widely used?

"The feedstock inputs you need for biodiesel are more expensive than petroleum is," Jones Prather said. "On top of that, the processes for producing the fuel aren't yet efficient enough so that you can produce it very cheaply."

What is the main problem in using biodiesel?

The most common problems with fuel quality are (1) the biodiesel may contain some "unconverted"vegetable oil (incomplete processing), (2) traces of chemicals from the making of the biodiesel (e.g., methanol, lye) can remain in the biodiesel, (3) products of the reaction (e.g., glycerin, soaps) may not be completely ...

Why is biofuel not used?

The unaccounted for environmental problems that indirectly arise from biofuel use are significant: 1) direct conflicts between land for fuels and land for food, 2) other land-use changes, 3) water scarcity, 4) loss of biodiversity, and 4) nitrogen pollution through the excessive use of fertilizers.

What are the disadvantages of using biodiesel?

Why is biodiesel bad for the environment?

It goes into the air as carbon dioxide and contributes to global warming." "Any biofuel that causes the clearing of natural ecosystems will increase global warming," he continued.

The Problem with Biofuels

Why is biofuel not a good alternative energy?

Judging from the findings, biofuels just aren't a viable option. A B20-fueled car releases 12% more CO2 per driven km than a gasoline car, and uses up 683 times more water (for agriculture and fuel production).

What is the biggest problem with using biofuels?

Likewise, the fertilizer, water and land required to produce enough biofuel to reduce fossil fuel consumption significantly can create other problems, ranging from increased pollution to decreased access to food. Biofuels, and the process of integrating them into our fuel use habits, can be costly.

What is the biggest challenge of biofuels?

Producing second generation biofuels is even more challenging than producing first generation biofuels due the complexity of the biomass and issues related to producing, harvesting, and transporting less dense biomass to centralized biorefineries.

Why biodiesel is not used in India?

In India, jatropha seeds were used to produce biodiesel, but the production has not been consistent. Farmers were encouraged to plant jatropha, but the yield was far below what was expected. This led to the raw material cost becoming fairly expensive, making biodiesel even more expensive than petroleum based diesel.

What are the challenges in Biodiesel Production?

The main disadvantages of biodiesel are its higher viscosity, lower energy content, higher nitrogen oxide (NO _x ) emissions, lower engine speed and power, injector coking, engine compatibility, high cost, and higher engine wear [3].

Is biodiesel good for the environment?

Using biodiesel lowers particulate matter by 47%, reduces hydrocarbon emissions by up to 67%, and reduces smog. It's environmental benefits don't stop there. The production of biodiesel, in lieu of petroleum diesel, reduces wastewater by 79% and hazardous waste by 96%.

Are biofuels widely used?

Today, most gas sold at gas stations includes about 10 percent bioalcohol fuel. This is usually ethanol, which is produced from corn or other vegetable byproducts and is, by far, the most prevalent biofuel in the country. But there are limits to how much biofuel vehicles can handle.

Is bio diesel any good?

Biodiesel has higher lubricity (it is more "slippery") than petroleum diesel. This is a good thing, as it can be expected to reduce engine wear. Biodiesel contains practically no sulfur. This is also a good thing, as it can be expected to result in reduced pollution from engines using biodiesel.

Are biofuels worse than fossil fuels?

The fact is that in some cases biofuels are much worse than fossil fuels as they are removing massive CO2 sinks and create extra CO2 in the process. You do not to use food products, you can use crop residues like Abengoa who use wheat straw to make bio ethanol.

What happened biodiesel?

It may help the climate, but there's a big environmental risk. Almost a third of the diesel fuel sold in California now is derived from biological feedstocks like plant oils. Environmental incentives make this "renewable diesel" more profitable.

Why are biofuels controversial?

But biofuels have major drawbacks too. Critics think their environmental benefits are overstated and argue that, by taking land that would otherwise be used for growing food, they could severely worsen poverty and hunger in developing countries.

Do biofuels contribute to global warming?

Biofuels such as bioethanol contribute little or no CO2 to the buildup of greenhouse gas emissions.

Do biofuels reduce greenhouse gases?

Biofuels can reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and thus reduce carbon dioxide emissions, because biofuels are carbon neutral.

Is biodiesel as efficient as diesel?

B20 with 20% biodiesel content will have 1% to 2% less energy per gallon than petroleum diesel, but many B20 users report no noticeable difference in performance or fuel economy. Biodiesel also has some emissions benefits, especially for engines manufactured before 2010.

What are the challenges in growth production and use of biofuels?

However, photosynthesis is an inefficient process, and the energy stored in plant material requires significant processing to produce biofuels. Current biofuel production methods are also intensive and require additional resources, such as water, fertilizer, and large areas of land to grow crops.

Where might biofuel be most useful?

While refineries produce ethanol from various types of "feedstock," including wheat and barley, roughly 90 percent of America's ethanol comes from corn. Ethanol is mainly used to power motor vehicles and is often blended with gasoline. In Europe, however, using wheat as an energy crop is on the rise.

How do biofuels different from fossil fuels?

Biofuels are renewable, whereas fossil fuels are nonrenewable. Biofuels are mostly grown from modern grains or the organic residues of modern plants, whereas the organisms that fossil fuels are made from have been dead for millions of years.