Soybean Biodiesel Production

The recent years witnessed the publicity rush that biodiesel is the ultimate answer to energy problems all over the world. Indeed, governments, companies and industries, and environment groups are moving mountains to attain secure future for the coming generations. Other responses to the energy crisis range from use of animal fat byproducts and soybean biodiesel production and varied biodiesel tax credits and incentives.

Biodiesel or B100 is the cleanest option of burning fuel because it emits fewer pollutants. Moreso,
with its use, biodiesel is considered good for the environment as it is made of renewable resources, does not increase the harmful CO2 level in the atmosphere, and has considerably lower emission than petroleum diesel. Scientists and environmentalists alike put forward the fact that using 100% biodiesel fuels lessen dangerous greenhouse gases by 75%.

Among a variety of biodiesels comes soy biodiesel, an alternative fuel produced from soybean oil.
In four years since 1999, about half a million gallons of soybean biodiesel has been produced, and
mainly used in the United States alone. With very minute or no modifications, soy biodiesel can
be used in diesel engines, and fuel trucks, buses and cars. In a process called transesterification,
methyl esters and glycerin are produced with the former used as the biodiesel itself.

Like all biodiesels, soybean biodiesel production is a cheaper choice, considering the negligible expense one makes when choosing this product for fuel. This leading feedstock for biofuel may cost higher at than $1 per gallon, but is projected to decrease over the years as use of biodiesels are now being the chosen lifestyle of a growing number of people. Point is, biodiesels may cost a few cents more but this can be dismissed when you seriously look at the benefits you get with your choice of fuel.

In the US alone, there are sufficient foodstuffs made up of soybean and vegetable oils and animal fats to make close to 2 billion gallons of biodiesel. Refuting claims of costly soybean biodiesel production, studies finally revealed that they produce more energy than is needed to grow the crops and then convert them to biofuels. With this, the soybean industry has been advocating use of biodiesel as well, flashing the help such method offer the environment and economy of the country. The same industry touts the versatility of soybean biodiesel which can be available to any citizen, stressing further that it has higher net energy benefit than other biodiesel sources.

For its high quality fuel advantages and benefits to the environment, for the energy security it provides the human race and the economic potentials it pose, soybean biodiesel production may just be one of the apt responses each one can make today.