New Delhi: Every year on August 10, International Biodiesel Day is celebrated to commemorate the occasion on the same day in 1893 when Rudolf Diesel first ran an engine using peanut oil. Due to the rising environmental pollution, the importance and effectiveness of biodiesel are being increasingly discussed in the mainstream narrative, especially at a time when the threat of climate change and global warming are increasing steadily.
Is biodiesel good for the environment?
There is a raging debate about the effectiveness of biodiesel in reversing or bringing down the pollution level in the environment. In today’s age, biodiesel is being hailed as a clean and renewable substitute for petroleum diesel and it reportedly improves the environment and the air quality, leading to improved public health and safety.
According to reports, biodiesel ensures that the carbon dioxide released is leveled by the carbon dioxide absorbed by feedstocks which are used in the production of the fuel. Infact, it reportedly brings down carbon dioxide emissions by 74 per cent compared with petroleum diesel. Researches suggest that biodiesel not only lowers the emission of greenhouse gas by up to 86 per cent but also reduces particulate matter by 47 per cent and the emission of hydrocarbon by up to 67 per cent. It lowers the smog level and also brings down hazardous waste by 96 per cent and wastewater by 79 per cent.
The United States government states that biofuels produce fewer emissions of air toxics, particulates, and sulfur dioxide compared to the fuels and if biofuel and petroleum are blended, then it will result in lower emissions compared to other fuels devoid of biofuels. However, the combustion of biodiesel may produce more nitrogen oxides.
When it comes to mixtures of ethanol and ethanol-gasoline, they are cleaner with more octane levels compared to gasoline without ethanol. But on the other hand, they result in higher evaporative emissions from dispensing equipment and fuel tanks. They, in turn, form harmful ozone and smog on the ground level and also, gasoline needs more processing to reduce evaporative emissions before it can be blended with ethanol. But overall, after comparing the pros and cons, researchers have pointed out that biofuels are far better for our environment when compared to fossil fuels, whose quantity is not unlimited on this planet.
There is a raging debate about the effectiveness of biodiesel in reversing or bringing down the pollution level in the environment. In today’s age, biodiesel is being hailed as a clean and renewable substitute for petroleum diesel. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
