Advantages of Emissions Produced by Biodiesel
Biodiesel can replace fossil fuel as a “clean energy source”. It can protect the environment by reducing CO2, SO2, CO, HC. The carbon cycle of Biodiesel is dynamic through the photosynthesis process.
Plants absorb CO2, which is more than those discharged by the biodiesel combustion process. Thus, using biodiesel can more effectively reduce the emission of CO2, protect the natural environment and maintain the ecological balance, compared to the use of fossil fuel.
The emission of SO2 in the combustion process of biodiesel is much lower than normal diesel oil because of the low sulfur content in it. Thus, the use of biodiesel instead of normal diesel oil will effectively reduce acid rain, which represents a serious threat to the environment and human infractructure in forms of acidification of soil, surface and ground water forest and vegetation damage, and increased corrosion of buildings and historical monuments made from calcium containing stones.
Furthermore, CO, HC and particulate matters will be less discharged, because ester compounds in biodiesel contains oxygen promoting clean burning.
Using biodiesel can also reduce air pollution. The use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in a substantial reduction of hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, alkenes, aldehydes, ketones, and particulate matter. Nitrogen oxide emissions are slightly increased if the engine management remains unchanged. However, this can be optimized using special software and biodiesel sensors. Using biodiesel decreases solid carbon fraction particulate matter and eliminates the sulfate fraction. Increasing the percentage of biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel fuel progressively eliminates sulfates. Biodiesel works well with new technologies such as catalysts, particulate traps, and exhaust gas recirculation. Soy biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide by 78 percent on a life cycle basis. In addition, diesel engine exhaust from biodiesel was found to have a lower mutagenic potential than that from conventional diesel fuel . This effect is believed to result from a lower content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the particle emission of biodiesel. Biodiesel is the first alternative fuel that has fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean AirAct.
