Biodiesel: The What, How, and Why

A Jar of Biodiesel

WHAT?

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can replace or be mixed with diesel in any proportion and can be used in any diesel engine with little or no modifications. Biodiesel can be made from any fat or oil such as olive oil, canola oil, or beef tallow.

HOW?

In America biodiesel is made primarily from soybean oil. Biodiesel is reacted by mixing the oil with a catalyst and adding heat. The catalyst most commonly used is methoxide. This catalyst is made by mixing lye (a chemical found in drain cleaner or soap) and methanol (a chemical commonly used as an engine cleaner).

WHY?

Biodiesel has better emission characteristics, less toxicity and produces the same amount of power as regular diesel. Biodiesel produces about the same amount of carbon dioxide as diesel yet most of the carbon dioxide produced was adsorbed from the atmosphere by the plant from which the vegetable oil came from, therefore there is a less of a net accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere.

Overall, Biodiesel is a well rounded alternative fuel source with a viable future--especially at West Virginia University!

Questions or comments may be sent to wvubiodieselproject@gmail.com . Or, if you or anyone you know would like to get involved, we have meetings on Wednesday @ 5pm in the Engineering Sciences Building, Room 425 on the Evansdale campus. Everyone is welcome!

Until next time...

Meetings: The Down-low

I know what you are saying, "I know yall exist, but where do you come together and how can I get involved?" Alex Stanton presents on biodiesel.

This post is here to answer that question. We meet WEEKLY in the Engineering Science Building on the fourth floor in room 425.


Where is the Engineering Science Building?
This is the Engineering Science Building on the Evansdale campus at WVU

Enter this building and proceed up to the fourth floor. Then, look for room 425, which is also known as the Wen Library.

Alex Stanton, our organizations Technical Media Manager, prepares for the meeting.

But when do you all meet?

We meet every Wednesday during the Spring and Fall semesters at 5pm.

Patty Sefton, Project Manager, and Avram Siegel, Chair of the Project, are captivated by Alex's biodiesel presentation.