What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a liquid fuel made up of fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), or long-chain mono alkyl esters. It is produced from renewable sources such as vegetable oils and animal fats and is a cleaner-burning replacement for petroleum-based diesel fuel. It is nontoxic and biodegradable. Biodiesel has physical properties similar to those of petroleum diesel. Like petroleum diesel, biodiesel is used to fuel compression-ignition (diesel) engines. Low-level blends of biodiesel with petroleum diesel also provide benefits.

For more information on biodiesel and the industry:

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is the national trade association representing the biodiesel industry in the United States.
www.biodiesel.org

US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy site -
www.eere.energy.gov

The National Biodiesel Foundation is an organization focused on the fields of education, science and literature, including research for the advancement of the uses of fuels and other products derived from soybeans.
www.biodieselfoundation.org

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change brings together business leaders, policy makers, scientists, and other experts to bring a new approach to a complex and often controversial issue.
www.pewclimate.org

US Environmental Protection Agency’s Assessment and Standards Division Office of Transportation and Air Quality
www.epa.gov

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
www.astm.org

The National Biodiesel Accreditation Program is a cooperative and voluntary program for the accreditation of producers and marketers of biodiesel fuel called BQ-9000.
www.bq-9000.org