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Agricultural Marketing Resource Center

Biodiesel


Overview

Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel made from renewable resources. The most common process employs transesterification whereby methyl esters are produced from fats and oils, yielding a non-toxic, biodegradable fuel that can be burned in diesel engines, and glycerin, which can be used in industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it is usually mixed with petroleum diesel fuel and sold as, for example, 'B2', 'B5', 'B10' to reflect the percentage of biodiesel (2%, 5%, 10%) included in the mix. It is also used alone as a diesel fuel, called B100. In the United States, biodiesel is produced from plant oils, animal fats, recycled restaurant grease and waste grease. Research continues to develop other feedstock sources for biodiesel, including algae, to make biodiesel production affordable in many different locations. OIls from non-food plants, such as camelina, jatropha and pennycress are potential feedstocks for biodiesel.  June 2012 ...  Biodiesel


Marketing

Processing/Manufacturing

Production

Businesses/Case Studies


Links checked June 2012.

U.S. Bioenergy Statistics, ERS, USDA, May 2013 - The U.S. Bioenergy Statistics are a source of
information on biofuels intended to present a picture of the renewable energy industry and its
relationship to agriculture.

Energy Industry


 

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