Reduced Biodiesel Emissions are Environmentally Friendly

Biodiesel emissions are significantly lower than the emissions from an engine burning normal diesel.

Biodiesel contains oxygen and this is one of the reasons that it burns more completely. Carbon Monoxide, Particulate Matter, Hydrocarbons and all the other air pollutants except for Nitrous Oxide are reduced. Interestingly Carbon Monoxide and Particulates are a sign of incomplete combustion in an engine. Carbon Dioxide is also reduced but this is not categorized as a pollutant by the EPA. It is however one of the biggest green house gasses contributing to global warming. So a reduction in CO2 is a good thing.

In addition the carbon that is being released when burning biodiesel does not contribute to an increase in green house gasses. To illustrate this imaging a field where a sunflower is growing. As it grows and gets bigger it absorbs carbon from the air in the form of CO2. When the sunflower is pressed and the oil extracted the carbon forms part of the oil. When the oil is burnt the carbon goes back into the air and is ready to become part of another plant. When fossil diesel is burnt the carbon which has been buried underground for millions of years is added to the air, and increases the percentage.

Nitrous Oxide (NOX) emissions increase when running biodiesel. Nitrous Oxide is probably known to some of us as Laughing Gas. Dentists use it to anesthetize patients. It is the only one of biodiesel's emissions that increases. NOX is formed in an engines cylinders when nitrogen from the air comes into contact with oxygen at a high temperature. It is also used as a booster fuel for drag racers and rockets.

High NOX can cause smog and ozone both of which are harmful especially in cities. For this reason NOX emissions are regulated and there are government bodies that frown upon biodiesel for this reason.

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