What is B20 Biodiesel
Fuel?
B20
biodiesel is an alternative fuel created by mixing regular
petroleum diesel, refined from crude oil, with a biofuel
produced from agricultural products as soy beans, rape seeds,
mustard seeds, waste cooking oils and other organic products.
The B number indicates the percentage of biofuel. That means
B20 Biodiesel is a blend of 20 percent biofuel and 80 percent
petroleum diesel. Although biofuels can be used at any mixture,
including 100 percent biofuel, the B20 mixture is considered
the best blend for normal use in conventional diesel engines.
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What Are the Advantages
of Using B20 Biodiesel?
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| B20 is
good for the environment. |
B20
biodiesel burns significantly cleaner than regular petroleum
diesel. This means vehicles that use B20 fuel will produce
appreciably less harmful exhaust emissions such as carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulates. The higher the percentage
of biofuel used, the greater the reduction in dangerous emissions.
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B20 can help America gain energy independence. |
If
you can grow your own diesel fuel, you don’t need to buy it
from someone else. Biodiesel can help reduce our dependence
on crude oil from foreign countries. Every 5 gallons of B20
we use in our diesel vehicles replaces .75 gallon of crude
oil. Idahoans burn approximately 360 million gallons of petroleum
diesel each year. If we used B20 instead, we could cut the
need for imported crude oil by about 54 million gallons per
year. In addition, biodiesel creates excellent economic development
opportunities for America’s farmers by creating markets for
crops used to produce biodiesel. |
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B20
can be good for your engine. |
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Biodiesel
can extend the life of some diesel engines because it is more
lubricating than petroleum diesel fuel. Biodiesel is 11% oxygen,
which means that even in a blend such as B20, it assists in
the combustion of the hydrocarbons. Biodiesel reduces air
pollution and reduces greenhouse
gases. The exhaust from biodiesel smells much better than
diesel exhaust, too, and the black soot level is reduced. |
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Find
out more about B20 diesel fuel and where you can purchase
it on the Idaho Department of Water Resources Energy Division
Web site: Idaho B20
Diesel Program. |
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