Green Living & Biodiesel

A Brief Introduction To Biodiesel

Presented to Cedar Ridge Middle School Technology Students

By Dallas Hanks, USU FreeWays to Fuel

Oct 15, 2009

What Kinds of Fuels Do We Use In Our Vehicles Today?

2 Main Types:Gasoline

Cars, Small Trucks, Some Lawn Equipment & Tractors, Small Boats

Diesel Fuel Cars, Medium & Large Trucks, School Buses, Large Boats & Ships, Tractors & Farm Equipment

Problems With These Fuels…Gasoline and diesel fuel are made from

petroleum (oil) which is a finite resource Eventually we will run out of oil reserves and it takes thousands of years to create more

We have to import these fuels from unstable parts of the world

Makes fuel prices go up when supply is threatened

Gas and diesel exhaust cause pollution and Greenhouse Gases that may contribute to Global Warming

Rethinking Energy Sources…Use Less Energy Use Alternative

Forms of EnergyBiodiesel EthanolHydrogen / Fuel CellHybrid ElectricSolar PowerWind Power

One of the Best Solutions Comes from Plants –

Biodiesel!

Biodiesel Raw Materials

Oil or Fat AlcoholSoybean MethanolCorn EthanolCanolaCottonseed CatalystSunflowerSafflower Sodium hydroxideBeef tallow Potassium hydroxideUsed cooking oils

Biodiesel Reaction

Vegetable Oil or

Animal Fat (100 lbs.)

+Methanol or

Ethanol(10 lbs.)

Biodiesel(100 lbs.)

+Glycerine(10 lbs.)

In the presence of a catalyst

Combining

Yields

Uses for BiodieselBiodiesel can be used in any diesel engine

with little or no modifications.

Benefits of Biodiesel

78% Life Cycle Decrease In CO2

Energy Balance 4.6 to 1Diesel Engines are 30%

More Efficient Than Gasoline Engines –

You can drive 30% farther on a gallon of diesel than you can on a gallon of gas

Benefits of Biodiesel

Creates Jobs Increases Domestic Fuel

Production CapacityReduces Energy Imports

and Dependence on Foreign Oil Sources

Distributes our Energy Supply Across the Whole United States

Biodiesel Production Locations

Represent ~ 80% of biodiesel production volume in U.S.

Other Benefits of BiodieselEasy to Use Better for human healthLess “smelly” than diesel fuel –

biodiesel smells like french fries! Helps our American FarmersSustainable & renewable

resource

Biodiesel Activities at USUFreeWays to

FuelRoadside production of oilseed crops

Urban Farming and Fuel

Municipal landsAlgae Research

Thank You!Any Questions?

Dallas HanksEmail: dallas.hanks@aggiemail.usu.edu