The biodiesel project

Biodiesel has made great press over the recent months as the “green” alternative to petroleum diesel. See, for example, http://www.imperiumrenewables.com/grays.html for details about Western Washington’s newest biodiesel production facility.

Lyle Estill, in his book Biodiesel Power (New Society Publishers, 2005), says “Biodiesel has buzz. In the commercial fuel sector it has buzz as a lubricity additive to petroleum diesel. In the clean air crowd it has buzz for its reduced emissions. In agricultural circles it is talked about as a new cash crop. Academia is excited because biodiesel is a frontier, full of unknowns....Biodiesel has buzz with the peaceniks because there is ‘No War Required’ to obtain it. It has traction with those on the right side of the political spectrum because it can be ‘Made In America’.”

Clearly, there is a lot of hype and excitement about this fuel. The students in fall quarter Chemistry 140 tried to separate the hype from the facts (as they are known at this time), and presented their findings to the class in a 5- to10-minute presentation. What follows are various claims made about biodiesel and the Powerpoint presentations of the students’ findings.

“There are so many different grades of biodiesel that people will be confused as to what to use and therefore will not buy it.” — True? [104 kb]

“Modern automotive engines cannot handle biodiesel because biodiesel does not put out as much heat as petroleum-based diesel.” — True? [352 kb]

“Biodiesel produces as much or more emissions of carbon dioxide, compared to petroleum diesel, and therefore is not any ‘greener’ than petroleum diesel.” — True? [1.2 Mb]

“Truckers and other commercial haulers like biodiesel because a blend of biodiesel with petroleum diesel improves the lubricity of the fuel.” (What the heck is lubricity, anyway?) — True? [532 kb]

“Biodiesel is difficult to come by, especially in western Washington, where there are no large growers of soy or other oil-bearing plants.” — True? [1.3 Mb]