Nearly everything Americans eat, wear, buy or sell is transported by truck, train or barge powered by diesel fuel.
But the fuel is associated with particulate air pollution, threatening the lung health of millions of Americans, according to Lisa Thurstin, coordinator of the Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition.
Diesel users gathered last week in International Falls to hear about the alternative biodiesel in one of several workshops being held across the state by the American Lung Association and a coalition that includes the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.
Stricter federal emissions standards for diesel has led Minnesota to require that a portion of diesel fuel be made up of biodiesel, a renewable and cleaner transportation fuel that can be made from soybeans, other vegetable oils, animal fats or waste grease.
Minnesota law requires 5 percent biodiesel in diesel fuel.
The workshop was led by Hoon Ge, a nationally recognized fuel expert who heads the United Soybean Board’s National Biodiesel Hotline, which supplies information about diesel and biodiesel to users and transporters. Ge encouraged people who have troubles or questions about diesel or biodiesel to call the hotline at 800-929-3437 for assistance.
The Falls workshop included information on both diesel and biodiesel, including how each fuel is made, and how the two fuels compare.
Ge also discussed recent refining changes in traditional petroleum diesel, as well as best practices for sale and use of diesel fuels and how to recognize and respond to problems with diesel fuels.
Ge noted that the U.S. contains less than 5 percent of the world’s population, but uses 20 percent of the crude oil in the world.
Biodiesel production not only puts people to work to provide a cleaner burning fuel, said Ge, it also helps reduce dependency on foreign oil.
And, he said raw materials to produce biodiesel, including corn oil and algae, have huge potential for the market over the next three to five years.
In 2011, soybeans made up 57 percent of the source for biodiesel, with canola making up 12 percent. Ge said he expects corn to move up to the No. 2 source at some point.
He noted that one bushel, or 60 pounds, of soybeans yields about 1.44 gallons of B100 biodiesel and 44 pounds of animal feed.
Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but is most often mixed with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. Blends are identified by the letter “B” following by the corresponding level of biodiesel: B2 contains 2 percent biodiesel, B10 contains 10 percent and B20 contains 20 percent.
Ge said that a lot of myths exist about biodiesel. He said it can be used in any diesel engine with little to no modifications to the engine or fuel systems. When properly blended for winter use, it can be used in cold climates. And, he said, testing for cold-winter use continues to refine its use.
One-third of the problems Ge said he has seen with biodiesel can be attributed to high glycerin levels in off-spec B100 products that clog fuel filters. Today, most filter plugging issues can be attributed to high water concentration, microbial contamination or oxidation, he said.
Some people are concerned about biodiesel’s dryness, but instead he said it adds lubricity.
Ge said there is little difference in power and torque with B20, but fuel economy could decrease by 1 percent to 2 percent depending on the petroleum diesel is blended with. He said most users report little difference between B20 and the No. 2 diesel.
