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**__BIODIESEL __ ** __ ** "A domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean oil..." http://www.biodiesel.org/ ** __ ======

Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly alternative source of diesel fuel that is made from recycled fats and oils. Biodiesel is burned in diesel engines of automobiles and larger equipment. Biodiesel omits 68% fewer greenhouse gasses into earth's atmosphere.**
 * __Our Definition__:

__**Carbon Dioxide **__"A heavy colorless gas that does not support combustion, dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, is formed especially in animal repiration and in the decay or combustion of animal and vegetable matter, is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and is used in the carbonation of beverages (www.umich.edu). According to Envirolink.org, "Every year humans add over 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by these processes, and it is up thirty percent since 1750 ." []. The graph below shows the increasing rates of carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere from 1750 until 2000.



[|http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/greenhouse.htm]

****http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/index.html#ggo ** 
 * __Climate Change:__ **In our world today there are many factors that are causing unwarranted climate change . Many of these factors include the effects of carbon dioxide omissions from traditional power sources or elements of nature; the burning of coal, the use of oil in automobiles, the uprooting of fossil fuels, and deforestation. All of these processes produce a variety of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide. These greenhouse gasses attempt to leave the earth's atmosphere but get trapped by the ozone layer and remain in our atmosphere. This causes temperatures on earth to rise, directly affecting many other aspects of life on earth including the melting of glaciers and rising of sea levels. This is called the greenhouse effect. As seen in the graph below, carbon dioxide makes up 76% of the greenhouse gasses in earth's atmosphere. Much of this carbon dioxide comes from human actions. According to the Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather, "The use of energy by people is of huge proportions. In the United States, some 50 pounds of fuel are used per day per person." (Encyclopedia 284.) Many people have joined together in an effort to decrease the amount of greenhouse gasses in earth's atmosphere and stop the temperature rise. As seen in the quote above, much of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from the burning of gas in automobiles. One of the ways to decrease amounts of these greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere is by using biodiesel. According to an article written National Geographic on Ethanol and Biodiesel, the production and burning of biodiesel releases 68% fewer greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere than normal diesel. Additionally, much of the carbon dioxide released becomes part of the carbon cycle and it able to be re-used. Biodiesel is a much cleaner, healthier way of running automobiles and other equipment.   ** For more information on climate change and the release of green house gasses visit:


<span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 255);">**__GREEN HOUSE GASSES__** <span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(128, 0, 128); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 128); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left; display: block;">

[|http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/greenhouse.htm]

The carbon cycle is basically the exchange of carbon within the atmosphere. Its vital to understand that carbon is everywhere. It’s a part of the air, plants and is constantly on the move. It is a greenhouse gas when in the atmosphere: carbon dioxide (a carbon and oxygen attached together). So when Carbon dioxide is released into the environment it traps heat in the atmosphere. While this keeps the earth warm, over time the burning of fossil fuels has resulted in more and more carbon dioxide collecting in the atmosphere making it warmer (this is the biggest aspect of global warming. This issue is primarily due to the fossil fuels we burn while driving cars.
 * The Carbon Cycle**

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Biofuel on the other hand actually fits in quite well within the carbon cycle. As we know plats absorb Carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Thus the “same” plants that created the biofuel reabsorb the released carbon. This way instead of creating extra carbon dioxide, what ever is released is reabsorbed. This can clearly be seen through the diagrams below
 * Biofuel and the Carbon Cycle**



“a reversible reaction in which one ester is converted in to another (as by interchange of ester groups with an alcohol in the presence of a base” ([])
 * Definition of Transesterification-**

This is the basically the chemistry behind biofuel. Generally, a fat/ oil is reacted with an alcohol, generally ethanol. This reaction results in glycerin and meythl esther- or in other words biodiesel. This process is very effective as there is almost no waste. The process requires the combination of 87%oil, 12% alcohol, and 1% Catalyst and ends up with 86% methyl Esters (the Biofuels), 9% glycerine, 4% alcohol, and 1% fertilizer. ([])
 * What is Transesterification?**

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<span style="color: rgb(11, 0, 255);">__**<span style="color: rgb(16, 16, 213); font-size: 110%;">Biodiesel Fun Facts: ** <span style="color: rgb(16, 16, 213); font-size: 110%;"> __ <span style="color: rgb(16, 16, 213); font-size: 110%;">~According to Regina Kelly, author of __Energy Supply and Renewable Resources__, "There are over 500 biodiesel filling stations in the United States." ~"Biodiesel is reportedly highly energy efficient yielding more than three times the energy needed to produce it." ~"National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States Military also use biodiesel in selected vehicles and equipment." ~"Legislation plans to have one billion gallons of biodiesel on the market annually for 2012." ~ "The National Biodiesel Board has released the following production volume estimates for the US: <span class="bodyfontVerd11" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">FY 2008 -- 700 million gallons FY 2007 -- 450 million gallons FY 2006 -- 250 million gallons FY 2005 -- 75 million gallons FY 2004 -- 25 million gallons FY 2003 -- 20 million gallons FY 2002 -- 15 million gallons FY 2001 -- 5 million gallons FY 2000 -- 2 million gallons FY 1999 -- 500,000 gallons" ~

<span style="color: rgb(236, 39, 236); font-size: 110%;">__**Cons of Using Biodiesel**__: ~According to an article written in National Geographic on Ethanol and Biofuels: "Every biofuel also consumes crops that could be feeding a hungry globe. A recent UN report concludes that although the potential benefits are large the biofuels boom could reduce food security and drive up food prices in a world where 25,000 people die of hunger every day, most under the age of five." ~ Also according to the article, because the process of making Biodiesel is much more labor intensive and there is less of it in the world, the price of it is much more expensive than normal diesel. For instance, in Germany, biodiesel is 109% more expensive than normal diesel. media type="youtube" key="LLi_xZtddH0" height="344" width="425"
 * This video highlights pros and cons of using biodiesel in the opinions of people who use it in their automobiles.**

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 * This video and diagram show how easy it is to make your own biodiesel from home.**

http://agbe.typepad.com/

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 * This interview with Jack Lee explains the environmental friendliness of Biodiesel**

These following images show the process of Biodiesel production and its affect on the environment.

http://www.reliance.org/biodiesel.asp

http://saferenvironment.wordpress.com/

Credits: Collaborative- Research Construction of page Images/ Videos Introduction "Fun Facts"

Emma- “Climate Change Section” “Carbon Dioxide Section” “Cons of Using Biodiesel”

Mariam- “Transesterification” “Carbon Cycle” “Works Cited Page”

Works Cited __The African Uptimist__. 23 Mar. 2009 <http://agbe.typepad.com/>. __Alternative Energy__. Vol. 2. Thomas Gale. "Biodiesel.org - FAQ." __National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org - www.nbb.org__. 24 Mar. 2009 <http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/faqs/>. __Cape Cod Renewable Energy Resources and Sustainable Energy__. 24 Mar. 2009 <http://www.reliance.org/biodiesel.asp>. __Cape Cod Renewable Energy Resources and Sustainable Energy__. 24 Mar. 2009 <http://www.reliance.org/biodiesel.asp>. "Carbon cycle." __COTF__. 24 Mar. 2009 <http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/carbon/efcarbon.html>. "The Carbon Cycle." __NCAR Education & Outreach Homepage__. 24 Mar. 2009 <http://eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/cycles6.htm>. Dukert, Joseph M. __Energy (Greenwood Guides to Business and Economics)__. USA: Greenwood P, 2008. __Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government__. 24 Mar. 2009 <http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/images/carboncycle2.gif>. __The EnviroLink Network__. 23 Mar. 2009 <http://www.envirolink.org/>. Gunkel, Darrin. __Alternative Energy Sources (Current Controversies)__. New York: Greenhaven P, 2006. Kelly, Regina Anne. __Energy Supply and Renewable Resources (Global Issues)__. New York: Facts on File, 2007. __National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org - www.nbb.org__. 23 Mar. 2009 <http://www.biodiesel.org/>. __PARTHA DAS SHARMA&#8217;s Weblog on &#8220;Keeping World Environment Safer and Greener&#8221;__. 24 Mar. 2009 <http://saferenvironment.wordpress.com/>. Schneider, Stephen H. __Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather__. USA: Oxford UP, 1996. __Shinymarble | Green In Motion__. 24 Mar. 2009 <http://www.shinymarble.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/carbon-cycle.gif>. __University of Michigan__. 23 Mar. 2009 <http://www.umich.edu>. __YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.__ 24 Mar. 2009 <http://www.youtube.com>.

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