Biofuels/Biomass

Biodiesel

Large amounts of vegetable and animal-derived oils are used in cooking. The used cooking oil can be refined for use in diesel engines in trucks, cars, buses, and other vehicles. Biodiesel is a biofuel with no environmental cost because the oil already exists and has been used for another purpose (such as cooking french fries at a local restaurant). To be used as biodiesel, the oil must be filtered to remove any impurities. This can be done easily with filtration systems. Many biodiesel vehicles can be seen on U.S. roads. They look just like other cars and buses, but have diesel engines, and the exhaust may smell a bit like french fries.

Image of a soybean-powered bus      Image of a car that uses biodiesel

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