Biodiesel is a renewable fuel for diesel engines that is made from natural oils like soybean oil through a chemical process. It meets fuel standards and can be blended with petroleum diesel in any amount. Biodiesel produces less harmful emissions than petroleum diesel, has similar performance qualities, and provides an alternative fuel source that can help reduce US dependence on foreign oil imports.

1. Biodiesel 101
What Is Biodiesel?
Ø General Definition:
An introduction to
Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines
biodiesel, a fast-growing,
derived from natural oils, such as soybean oil, that meets
high-quality
the specifications of American Society of Testing &
Materials (ASTM) D 6751. American-made fuel.
Ø Additional Information:
Biodiesel can be used in any concentration with petroleum-
based diesel fuel in existing diesel engines with little or no
modification. Biodiesel is not raw vegetable oil. It is
produced by a chemical process that removes glycerin from
the oil. Technical Edition
9/05

2. What Is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel
engines derived from natural oils, such as soybean oil, that
meets the specifications of American Society of Testing &
Materials (ASTM) D 6751.
Biodiesel can be used in any concentration with
petroleum-based diesel fuel in existing diesel engines with
little or no modification. Biodiesel is not raw vegetable oil. It
is produced by a chemical process that removes glycerin
from the oil.

3. Rudolf Diesel
Designed diesel engine in
1894 to run on peanut oil
“The use of vegetable oils for
engine fuels may seem
insignificant today. But such
oils may become in the
course of time as important as
petroleum and the coal tar
products of the present time.”
–1912

4. Biodiesel Users
Biodiesel Users
Ø Some major customers include:
•City ofof Philadelphia
üCity Philadelphia
•Florida Power && Light
üFlorida Power Light
•Hamilton Southeastern Schools, Ind.
üHamilton Southeastern Schools, Ind.
•Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
üLambert-St. Louis International Airport
•DelDOT, MODOT, NJDOT, others
üDelDOT, MODOT, NJDOT, others
•NASA
üNASA
•Omaha Public Power
üOmaha Public Power
•Town ofof Breckenridge
üTown Breckenridge
•U.S. Forest Service
üU.S. Forest Service
•U.S. Military
üU.S. Military
•U.S. Postal Service
üU.S. Postal Service
•More!
üMore!

5. Biodiesel Performance
• Similar to petroleum diesel
• Highest BTU content of any
alternative fuel
• High cetane (combustibility)
➡ minimum cetane of 47
➡ higher than most #2 diesel

6. Biodiesel Performance
•High lubricity
➡ 2% biodiesel improves fuel
lubricity by up to 66%
➡ protects, extends engine life
•High flash point
➡ 260ºF vs. 125ºF for diesel
➡ safest fuel to use, handle,
store

7. Biodiesel Performance
• 55 million miles of on-road
use
• Startup, range, cold weather
performance similar to
petroleum diesel
• Fuel consumption,
horsepower, torque, haulage
rates similar to petroleum
diesel

8. Biodiesel & Clean Air
• Safer to breathe
• Less offensive exhaust
• Reduces cancer-causing
compounds by 80%–90%
➡compared to petroleum
diesel exhaust

9. Biodiesel & Clean Air
• Reduces particulate matter
in exhaust
• leading cause of asthma
• Lowers net carbon in
biosphere
• Fights global warming
• Reduces components of
smog, ozone, acid rain

10. Biodiesel & Clean Air
• Virtually free of sulfur and
aromatics
➡sulfur is component of
acid rain
• Soy B100 reduces lifecycle
CO² by 78%
• Decreases most EPA-targeted
emissions
➡including most greenhouse
gases

11. Biodiesel & Clean Air
Emission Type B100 B20 B2
Total Unburned Hydrocarbons -67% -20% -2.2%
Carbon Monoxide -48% -12% -1.3%
Particulate Matter -47% -12% -1.3%

12. Biodiesel & Environment
• Made from renewable
resources
• Biodegrades four times
faster than petroleum diesel
• Will not harm fish
• Less toxic than table salt and
biodegrades as quickly as
sugar (USDA)

13. Biodiesel & Energy Balance
• Highest energy balance of any fuel
➡ 3.2 units of energy gained per one
unit of fossil fuel to produce
• Petroleum diesel production creates
negative energy balance
➡ only .88 unit of energy per one unit
of fossil fuel to produce
• One gallon of biodiesel could conserve
four gallons of petroleum diesel

14. Biodiesel & Energy Security
• Petroleum imports projected
to provide 70% of U.S.
demand in 2025
➡Up from 54% in 2002
• U.S. now consumes 20
million barrels of oil a day
➡10+ million imported

15. Biodiesel Resources
`
• National Biodiesel Board (NBB)
➡informationaland technical resources,
videos, database
➡www.biodiesel.org
➡800/841-5849
• State Soybean Checkoff Boards
➡information,
education, materials
➡www.unitedsoybean.org/who_states.cfm
• United Soybean Board (USB)
➡Biobased Products Initiative (BPI)
➡www.unitedsoybean.org
➡800/989-8721
• American Soybean Association (ASA)
➡energy policy
➡www.soygrowers.com
➡800/688-7692