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| What is Bio-Diesel ? |
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Bio-diesel is fatty acid ethyl or methyl ester made from virgin or used vegetable oils (both edible & non-edible) and animal fats. |
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Similar to the Diesel (HSD), Bio-diesel is a substitute for petro-diesel – the main liquid fuel for heavy vehicles, railways, truck, tractors, marine engines etc., |
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The specifications of bio-diesel are such that it can be mixed with any diesel fuel and can operate in any compression ignition engine i.e. diesel engine. |
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Bio-diesel can be blended in any ratio with petroleum diesel fuel. Worldwide trend is to Initiate the programme with 2-5% blending and increase it to 20% and thereafter 100% in a phased manner. |
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| Need for the Bio-diesel |
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Petroleum availability finite – Bio-diesel from renewable sources ensures energy security of the country |
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Reduction in Import of Petroleum and thus Trade deficit. |
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Generates employment opportunities for rural masses thereby providing them livelihood support. |
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Helps in achieving Bharat Stage II emission norms from April 1’2005 and Euro III equivalent norms from April 1’2010 in the entire country as targeted in Auto Fuel Policy Report. |
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| Bio-diesel Vs. Diesel : Advantages |
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It can be stored just like the petroleum diesel fuel and hence does not require separate infrastructure. |
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The use of bio-diesel in conventional diesel engines results in substantial reduction of un-burnt hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matters (but NOX about 2 % higher) |
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Bio-diesel has almost no sulphur (0.05%), no aromatics and has about 10% built-in oxygen which helps in better combustion. |
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Its higher Cetane number (>51 as against 48 in diesel) improves the ignition quality even when blended in the petroleum diesel. |
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Require very little or no engine modifications because bio diesel has properties similar to petroleum diesel fuels. |
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Its higher flash point (>100 as against 35 in diesel) is good from safety points of view |
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| USES |
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Used as lubricants, soap and candle manufacturing. It has also been Reported as hair growth stimulant. In animals / live stock its application is useful against sores. |
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As animal feed, it has not been reported useful because the oil and seed possess toxic constituents like curcasin, resinous a texalbumin resembling ricin and a substance which have nauseating and purgative properties and create digestion problems in live – stock. |
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As a manure it is useful and contains 3.2% Nitrogen, 1.4% phosphorus and 1.2% potash. |
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In England, it is used in wool spinning and in China for manufacturing of non or semi drying alkaloids and for varnishing after boiling Jatropha oil with iron oxide. These uses can be explored in India. |
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Plant is useful for large scale plantations in poor or marginal lands as oil yield from established plantations can yield will be around 1.5 to 2.3 tones per hectares. |
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