http://www.biodiesel.com/

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this fuel or has any input?

Here is a brief introduction on biodiesel. - Matt

Technically, Biodiesel is Vegetable Oil Methyl Ester. It is formed by removing the triglyceride molecule from vegetable oil in the form of glycerin (soap). Once the glycerin, or soap, is removed from the vegetable oil, the remaining molecules are, to a diesel engine, similar to petroleum diesel fuel. There are some notable differences. The biodiesel molecules are very simple hydrocarbon chains, containing no sulfer, ring molecules, or aromatics associated with fossil fuels. Biodiesel is made up of almost 10% oxygen, making it a naturally "oxygenated" fuel. Even though "diesel" is part of biodiesel's name, there is no petroleum "diesel" in the fuel. Biodiesel is 100% vegetable oil based.

Biodiesel is currently produced and used throughout Europe and has been gaining worldwide popularity as alternate energy source because of its many advantages. Biodiesel reduces tailpipe emissions, visible smoke and noxious odors. It operates well in a conventional diesel engine with no engine modifications, and can also be used in a blend with conventional diesel while still achieving substantial reductions in emissions. Because biodiesel is non-toxic, biodegradable, and non-flammable, handling and storage are safer than conventional diesel fuel. The cost ranks well compared to other alternative fuels

-- Matt (Butenam1@aol.com), January 23, 1999

Answers

Hi, Matt!!

For more answers about bio-diesel, I would suggest that you contact either Jess P. Hewitt, III, who is a registered bio-diesel supplier in the U.S. He will give you any information you might need regarding this new fuel supply, and you may also want to contact, Bev Thessen (Information Coordinator), or Steve Howell, who is the Research Director of the National BioDiesel Board.

My company, "Britelyt", just received a shipment of their biodiesel and synfuel products, and will be testing them out in our multi- fueled lanterns and stoves. You can see our site at www.petromax.com or www.britelyt.com.

If you would like to get in touch with any of the abovesaid professionals, you can do so at:

www.biodiesel.org (National Biodiesel Board - Steve Howell) e-mail: Thristnlll@aol.com biodiesel@sockets.net

www.hiperfuels.com (Biodiesel store - J. P. Hewitt) e-mail: www.hiperfuels.com

I hope this information has been helpful, and you may want to watch for any postings we make available, as to the burning time and performance of these products.

You may contact us from the hours of 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (EST), 7- days per week, if we can be of any assistance. Keep smiling!!

Diana Clifton, President diana@petromax.com www.petromax.com www.britelyt.com 727-856-9245 727-856-7975 fax: 727-856-7715

-- Diana Clifton (diana@petromax.com), January 23, 1999.

For some practical information check out:

http://www.veggievan.org/index.html

They sell a book describing how to make biodiesel from vegetable oil and lye (lye from wood ashes, for example). The catalytic process and equipment necessary. $30 (US) I believe.

Hope this helps...

Jolly

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), January 23, 1999.

Why bother? Straight soybean oil works ok - just smells like all the burnt frying pans in the world. Probably carbon up the engine over time - but if we were in so much trouble you couldn't get fuel - the straight stuff would be ok.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), January 23, 1999.

Well Paul,

The main reason you want to do the treatment is because modern diesel engines have been designed to run on Petroleum based diesel which has a different viscosity than straight soy bean or other oil. (The original demonstration for the diesel engine ran off peanut oil)

SO, to prevent the various problems, including carbon formation, a little work is necessary.

Jolly.

PS(In addition to the diesel fuel, when you do the chemical reaction with the lye, you also get SOAP, and GLYCERIN. Both very useful to be sure)

-- Jollyprez (Jolly@prez.com), January 24, 1999.