Biodiislikütuse

Biodiislikütuse, also known as biodiesel, is a renewable fuel derived from biological sources. It is typically produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases through a process called transesterification. This chemical reaction involves reacting the oil or fat with an alcohol, usually methanol, in the presence of a catalyst. The resulting product is a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters, which is chemically similar to petroleum-based diesel fuel.

Biodiesel can be used in diesel engines either in its pure form or blended with conventional diesel. Common blends include B5 (5% biodiesel, 95% petroleum diesel) and B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel). Biodiesel is considered a cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum diesel, producing fewer emissions of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons. However, it can sometimes result in higher emissions of nitrogen oxides.

The environmental benefits of biodiesel stem from its renewability. The raw materials used to produce it can be grown or sourced sustainably, and plants used for biodiesel production absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during their growth, potentially offsetting some of the carbon emissions from its combustion. However, the sustainability of biodiesel production can be debated, with concerns raised about land use, deforestation, and competition with food crops for agricultural resources. Biodiesel also has some physical property differences compared to petrodiesel, such as a higher flash point and a tendency to degrade in cold temperatures, which can affect its performance and storage.