What is biodiesel?

Biodiesel (fatty acid alkyl esters) offers a range of environmental benefits unrivalled by any other alternative fuel. It is sustainable and renewable product with very positive energy balances. BIPSE® is manufactured from recovered vegetable oils (RVO) and therefore offers an environmentally enhancing use for these products. It is safely biodegradable and non-toxic. Biodiesel can be used straight or as a blend in place of fossil diesel, without modification, in diesel powered engines.

Life cycle emissions of greenhouse gases from bio diesel are 55% lower that fossil diesel. The emissions of Carbon Monoxide (a poisonous gas) from bio diesel are on average 40% lower than carbon monoxide emissions from diesel.

Tailpipe emissions of local air pollutants are better than fossil diesel specifically: Particulate emissions of bio diesel are measured as 20 to 39% lower than low sulphur fossil diesel and 10 to 29% lower that ULSD.

Sulphur emissions are a major contributor of acid rain. Sulphur emissions from biodiesel are at least 80% lower than low sulphur fossil diesel due to the negligible sulphur content of bio fuels.

Nitrogen Oxides are a contributing factor in the localised formation of smog and ozone. Nitrogen Oxides emissions from bio diesel are comparable with those from ULSD.

Volatile Organic Compounds emissions from bio diesel are 55% lower than low sulphur fossil diesel emissions.

Biodiesel has significantly lower toxicity, better biodegradability and higher flash points than fossil fuels. Biodiesel is less toxic than table salt (sodium chloride) and less irritating to the skin than soap. The flash point of fossil diesel is approximately 52 Celsius while Biodiesel has a much higher flashpoint of approximately 151 Celsius. Biodiesel degrades by 91% in the first twenty-one days. Biodiesel degrades about four to five times faster than fossil diesel fuels and can be used as a solvent to aid clean up of fossil diesel spills.