Central Blurb

Indispensable Tips On The Incredible History Of Biodiesel Fuel

Dr. Rudolph Diesel was the inventor of the ubiquitous diesel engine, way back in the 1890s. The doctor developed the project as an answer to the basic steam engines that have been around since the auto was first invented. The steam engines were inefficient and could be dangerous, and the diesel engine was lauded for its reliability as an alternative.

Unlike the petrol engine that was to gain wider acceptance, the diesel engine operates on the basis of compression – ignition. Air enters into the engine cylinder and is compressed when the piston rises, igniting the mixture and emitting power. The petrol engine on the other hand uses a spark to ignite a fuel/air mix when the air is compressed, and needs a somewhat complex “backup” system of plugs, coils and leads.

While the first public demonstration of what was essentially the early “bio diesel” engine occurred in 1900, it was to be the 1930s before modern biodiesel fuel was developed through the conversion of vegetable oils into fatty acid methyl esters.

Following the war period and during times of relative plenty, there was little real interest in biodiesel as an alternative. When petro diesel was readily available and quite cheap, vegetable oil based alternatives were not suitable. As the vegetable oil was subject to a higher viscosity, experimentation resulted in further development and the emergence of what we now know as biodiesel.

A Belgian inventor came up with a process subsequently termed transesterification in 1937, when he converted vegetable oils as a diesel fuel replacement, but it was to be well into the 1980s before this was perfected due to urgent needs associated with energy security and increased efficiency. The process of transesterification was successfully matched at this time, making biodiesel fuel a real alternative to those concerned about the environment.

Biodiesel first gained widespread acceptance in Europe in the 1990s, due to much higher prices of petro diesel. Biodiesel was first produced in 1996 in the United States and since that time has grown to be more widely available and become the subject of much speculation.

Our society as a whole has become much more aware of damage caused to our environment through industrial and automotive pollution. As we are becoming more aware, energy production costs have been shooting upward. When gas prices reached the peaks in the United States recently, consumers really became aware of sustainability and the need to become more efficient. As petro diesel is now more expensive than conventional gasoline and each method of propulsion eats into a typical household budget, alternatives that are seen to be more beneficial to the environment are gaining acceptance.

There are exciting times ahead for biodiesel as we seek to constrain our spending, become more secure and focus on environmental issues. Nowadays, homemade biodiesel is becoming a stepping stone for many as they seek to attain an element of independence and environmental stewardship. It comes down to the simple equation of whether a sustainable fuel solution can be produced at a lesser cost than the readily available alternative, and in this case, biodiesel is most definitely the answer. It’s a real solution, and a way forward.