Negative Advantages Of Biodiesels

IS BIODIESEL A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO DIESEL FROM FOSSIL FUELS FOR TRUCKS AND BUSES?

Introduction

Biodiesel are a viable alternative to diesel from fossil fuels for trucks and buses engine, this is because they are renewable sources of energy and they are also more ecologically friendly compared to fossil fuels. However, there are major disadvantages for using biodiesels, this includes the “Food Verse Fuel” debate and they also produce more NOx pollutants than compared to diesels and other fossil fuels. However even though being a renewable source of fuel, the most abundant source of biodiesels comes from industry. The conversion of this oil from biodiesels costs a lot of money because it requires the raw oil to be cleansed and also these oils

This is the only alternate fuel which has successfully completed the EPA’s (the EPA is an environmental protection agency based in the US). test for emissions and health under the Clean Air Act. Biodiesels significantly reduces the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), this is important as CO, although not contributing directly to global warming. It reacts with hydroxyl radicals in the atmosphere reducing their abundance. As OH radicals help to reduce the lifetime of strong greenhouse it increases the global warming potential of these gases. Also they reduce the emissions of carcinogenic (potential to cause cancer) compounds by as much as 85% compared with petrol diesels. A study by the EPA comparing the average exhaust emissions for 100% biodiesels comparing petroleum diesel fuels, showed that biodiesels lowered almost all pollutants released by petroleum diesels. (see table

This is occurring because the global population is continuously growing, causing the requirement of food to increase. Some countries such as Africa having already a high percentage of malnutrition. Where a study conducted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that, 239 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were undernourished in 2010 (http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/africa_hunger_facts.htm). One source used to make biodiesels are soybeans. In order to produce enough biodiesels to power our everyday transportation needs 2.8 billion acre of farmland is required. In the United States of America approximately 302 million acres of land is being used to produce crops, which are used to produce animal feed for meat industries. Approximately 10 acers of soybeans are needed to supply to a car with enough fuel to fill its tank. (see table below for fuel used in cars for everyday transportation). Wouldn’t it be better to use 10 acers of land to fed the 239million people who a staving in Africa, who have nothing rather than using them to fuel our cars, when we have many luxuries already?

FUELS USED IN EVERYDAY TRANSPORTATION

Current Petroleum Diesel Used for Transportation 60 billion gallons

Current Gasoline Used for Transportation 120 billion gallons

Biodiesel needed to Replace US Transportation Needs 140.8 billion gallons

Approximate Biodiesel Usage 500 gallons per year