For many farmers, the task of manufacturing high quality biodiesel fuel is more than they really want to take on. Some farmers opt to provide their oilseed or pressed oil to a professional biodiesel processor, who either pays in cash or in fuel for use on the farm. Others may choose to purchase biodiesel from a nearby producer rather than growing their own. Regardless of whether it’s made on site or obtained from a nearby plant, good quality biodiesel…
Biodiesel production does not result in a lot of waste. However, depending on the process and feedstocks use, it can produce some wastewater, minerals, resins, solids strained out of used oil and glycerin. Often, waste is not an issue for large producers because they can invest in the equipment needed to recycle and reuse some of these products. For small producers, waste disposal is often a concern.
The biodiesel industry aims for a zero discharge process. Plants that recycle …
Commercial-scale biodiesel producers have many constraints beyond those which small producers need to meet. Commercial producers must satisfy the expectations of owners and/or stockholders for profitability. They must make optimal use of capital and other resources. They also have to include the cost of labor because it comes from paid employees. Small-scale producers will often ignore the cost of their time and the value of the space they devote to producing fuel.
Commercial-scale producers must also meet regulatory requirements …
Are biofuels truly sustainable? Explore biofuel sustainability in regards to the environment, economy, energy, and farming livelihood.
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Soybean biodiesel fuel. Photo: Leandro Maranghetti Lourenço, Brazil; Wikimedia Commons. |
Major Questions about the Sustainability of Biofuels
Explore corn as an biofuel crop for the production of ethanol to more completely understand the potential and challenges of growing corn for energy production.
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| Ear corn. Photo: F. John Hay, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. |
Corn (Zea mays) is a popular feedstock for ethanol production in the …
Learn approaches to help promote biodiversity on the farm while growing biofuel feedstocks.
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Corn and soy fields in Minnesota. Photo: US EPA and National Archive and Record Administration; Wikimedia Commons. |
Biodiversity is the variation of life at all levels, from genes to organisms to populations. Healthy ecosystems tend to have greater biodiversity.
Most biofuel feedstocks come from agricultural crops grown in highly disturbed ecosystems with relatively …
There are several benefits to using grasses, such as switchgrass and miscanthus, as biofuel feedstocks. They grow on marginal lands, prevent soil erosion better than row crops, and require fewer inputs. Read below about the advantages and drawbacks of grass crops.
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| Farmers use traditional farm equipment to grow and harvest switchgrass. Photo: Dennis Pennington, Bioenergy Educator, Michigan State University. |
Grasses are …
Can we reduce greenhouse gases with biofuels? Explore biofuels, the carbon cycle and potential impacts.
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Palm oil plantation, in Indonesia. Photo: Achmad Rabin Taim; Wikimedia Commons. |
From the standpoint of human-released carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gas emissions, and contributions to climate change biofuels have one large advantage over gasoline, diesel and other fossil fuels: The feedstocks for biofuels …
The process to make biodiesel involves a chemical reaction. This means that the biodiesel industry is a chemical industry. Those involved in making biodiesel must have a good understanding of the underlying chemistry to ensure they are making quality fuel in a safe manner.
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Biodiesel is an alternative fuel for diesel engines that is produced by chemically reacting a vegetable oil …
Does biodiesel production impact food supplies? Learn about the “fuel versus food” debate, examine scenarios showing impacts and factors considered by scientists trying to unravel this complex question.
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| Harvesting soybeans in Nebraska. Photo: F. John Hay, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. |
