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Home > Alternative Energy Information > Biodiesel
BIODIESELBiodiesel is an alternative fuel that is biodegradable, burns cleanly and is made from a renewable resource. In the United States, biodiesel is made primarily from soybean oil and secondarily from a product called yellow grease, which is essentially used restaurant cooking oil. It can also be made from tallow, a hard fat that comes from cattle or sheep, which is frequently used to make soap and other products. What exactly is biodiesel? Biodiesel is made by breaking apart the vegetable oil triglyceride molecule, and recombining the ester chain with methanol, creating clean burning methyl ester molecules. How is Biodiesel different than other alternative fuels? Biodiesel is the only fuel that can be used directly in all diesel engines with out any modification to the engine, and can be splash mixed in any proportion with existing fuel in the tank. Biodiesel can be distributed and sold using existing pumps and pipelines. Biodiesel ASTM D6751 is a very specific compound that is produced and tested under strict standards, ensuring a quality, reliable, and trouble free product.
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