Advantages and Disadnvantages of biofuel

Biofuel is derived from biomass — recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. It is a renewable energy source, unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of this new fuel:

Advantages

- Renewable - vegetable oil derived

- Dramatically reduced emissions

- Carbon Neutral

- Biodegradable

- Non-toxic

- Less noxious - fuel & exhaust emmisions

- Used directly in unmodified diesel engine

- Biodegradable

- Higher Lubricity - can prolong engine life

- High flashpoint - safer to store & transport

- Simple to make

- Used neat or blended in any ratio with petroleum diesel


Disadvantages

* Availability - very few outlets & manufacturers. Fuel giants have not explored / invested in emerging biofuel technology such as algal oil / biologically produced fuels
* Poorly made biodiesel of low quality can cause engine problems
* Producing biodiesel without proper equipment and safety precautions can be dangerous



Green fuel

* Renewable - Biodiesel is derived from vegetable oil which is essentially grown - a sustainable resource that will not run out. Petroleum diesel is derived from crude oil, which is finite and will eventually run out.

* Carbon Neutral - Biodiesel use does not lead to any overall change in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. The vegetables from which the oil has been extracted remove CO2 from the atmosphere to grow. When biodiesel is burned the CO2 is released back into atmosphere.

* Less noxious, non-toxic - Biodiesel lacks the unpleasant odour of petroleum diesel and exhaust emissions smell like a barbecue! Users can expect a near 100% reduction in Sulphur dioxide (SO2), 40-60% reduction in soot & particulates, 10-50% reduction in Carbon monoxide, and a reduction in all Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAHs - Phenanthren -97%, Benzofluoroanthen -56%, Benzapyren -71%, Aldehydes & Aromatics -13%.

* Unlike petroleum diesel, it is biodegradable.



Other advantages

* Simple to make, and can be produced from waste vegetable oil.
* Classed as non-hazardous because it is non-toxic and has a high flash-point.
* Burns more efficiently than petroleum diesel.
* Substantially higher lubricity means it can reduce engine wear and hence prolong engine life.