Diesel and biodiesel are both used to power diesel vehicles, but diesel comes from petroleum and biodiesel is extracted from vegetable, seed, and animal oils. Diesel emits high levels of pollutants and is non-renewable, while biodiesel is renewable and releases marginal levels of pollutants. However, biodiesel requires crop diversion for oil production, which could lead to food supply issues. Both fuels have advantages and disadvantages in the journey towards clean, renewable, and efficient energy sources for transport.
Diesel and biodiesel are two products that can perform the same function, but come from very different sources. Both diesel and biodiesel can be used to power diesel-powered vehicles, such as cars, trucks, tractors and motorized lawn mowers. The main difference between these two fuel sources is that diesel comes from petroleum, a non-renewable by-product of fossil fuels, while biodiesel is extracted from vegetable, seed and animal oils. Diesel and biodiesel also vary in availability; while diesel is usually a standard product at most service stations, biodiesel suppliers are often few and far between.
Diesel engines were originally created to be a more efficient product than petrol engines. Diesel, which is oilier and thicker than gasoline, requires less refining than gasoline and is also generally less expensive. Popularized by the trucking industry, diesel is often preferred over gasoline for large vehicles that carry heavy loads.
While somewhat more efficient than petrol, the main disadvantage of conventional diesel is its effect on the environment. In the process of combustion, diesel emits high levels of soot and nitrogen, which results in increased air pollution, smog and high acid concentrations in rainwater. Also, like petrol, diesel also releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon monoxide, which can contribute to global warming and ozone damage. Another problem with traditional diesel is that it comes from a non-renewable source, oil, which means that overuse can lead to the depletion or even total annihilation of natural resources. Although greenhouse gas emissions are lower than those emitted by petrol, many environmental experts consider diesel a serious threat to air quality and the environment.
Biodiesel is a renewable source of diesel made from biodegradable oils, such as soybean or peanut oil. When combined with certain alcohols, the fat in these oils creates long chains of a chemical known as esters, which make the oil usable as fuel. Biodiesel can be used in almost any diesel engine with little modification and no engine damage. In addition to coming from a renewable source, biodiesel releases extremely marginal levels of pollutants into the air.
Comparing diesel and biodiesel, it is easy to assume that diesel is harmful and biodiesel is an environmentally safe miracle product. In fact, diesel was originally created to improve engine efficiency, thereby reducing fuel waste. Biodiesel, while having many advantages in terms of reducing pollution, requires the diversion of food crops towards oil production. In developing countries, some fear that the crop diversion needed to produce biodiesel and other biofuels could lead to dwindling food supplies and rising hunger levels. While neither diesel nor biodiesel appear to offer perfect answers for the future of fuel, both are important steps in the long journey towards clean, renewable and efficient energy sources for transport.
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