Biodiesel an Alternative Source of Fuel Research Paper

Biodiesel an Alternative Source of Fuel - Research Paper Example Due to the emergence of many industries involved in converting â€Å"raw materials into finished goods†, biodiesel proves to be an alternative source of fuel to suit the operations of the existing and emerging industries (Kowalski, 2010). This fuel is also suitable for diesel vehicles. Biodiesel is a kind of energy generated from fats or vegetable oils combined with alcohol (Kowalski, 2010). This fuel is ideal for diesel engines, as it does not require the modifications of the engines for its use. The United States of America generates this fuel by using soybean oil. Many companies prefer to generate this fuel from already used fats and at times use grease. Biodiesel is effective, as one may prefer mixing it with diesel or use it alone. Biodiesel is ideal during its use as it is friendly to the environment and nontoxic. It is a recyclable fuel. Biodiesel tend to burn cleanly with minimal chocking smell and emits an insignificant portion of smoke. This fuel is not a source of p ollution as it emits insufficient amounts of pollutants such as â€Å"carbon (1V) Oxide and hydrocarbons and no sulfur† is contained in this substitute source of fuel (Kowalski, 2010). During its preparation, filtration of the fats or oils extensively is necessary to remove the contaminants and water present. Biodiesel contains high amounts of energy and its accurate tackiness makes it apposite for use in all vehicles and equipment that require diesel. In order to realize energy liberty, Biodiesel is the initiative to take and follow (Kowalski, 2010). Preparing Biodiesel Transesterification is the procedure of coming up with biodiesel. This process involves a chemical reaction thus a catalyst is necessary to augment the speed of reaction. Since the fats and oils are hydrocarbons, filtration is a prerequisite to clean them. After they are clean, alcohol is added to the mixture and a catalyst introduced. Sodium hydroxide is the preferred catalyst to speed up its manufacture. Th e catalyst does not become part of fuel in any way. The resulting product of the chemical reaction is biodiesel fuel (Demirbas, 2008). Biodiesel has become popular as heating oil in many countries with many residents of the United States using this fuel in place of household oil. Letter â€Å"B† comes along with a certain number to mark it. The number represents the percentage of this fuel in a mixture of petroleum and biodiesel. For example, a combination of 30% biodiesel and 70% petroleum is denoted as B30. B20 is the most popular biodiesel globally. Compared to the fossil fuels, biodiesel emits fifty percent less hydrocarbon and minimum amounts of sulfates and oxides (Demirbas, 2008). Over the past twenty years, biodiesel has proved to be a substitute fuel. It offers preventive measures of handling and transporting as its biodegradable. To eliminate low temperature gelling, additives are readily available in the market. The companies announce on a gel additive that blends well with B100 to prevent gelling of temperature without altering the engine components. To maintain the stability of the fuel, recommendations are that blends of biodiesel above B20 to be used not more than six months after its production. Uses of fuel functions optimally above B20 in older vehicles, precautions are necessary due to deposits left by petrol diesel. Biodiesel dissolves the sediments that in turn obstruct the fuel sift. â€Å"Positive Impacts of Biodiesel on the Environment† Biodiesel as an alternative source of fuel offers some positive impacts on the human health as well as the environment. The largest impact made by this fuel on the environment is that it serves to reduce smog.

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economics - Essay Example It can also be the number of households which are unable to afford basic goods and services. Relative poverty is another dimension used to define poverty. It measures the extent to which the financial resources of households fall below an average income threshold (Measuring poverty. 2010). In other words absolute poverty can be defined as poverty where people cannot afford basic things that is necessary for living due to fall in income below the prescribed level. Whereas when income falls below the standard limit or average level by a certain amount, the situation is called as relative poverty (Relative and Absolute poverty. 2010). The living standards as well as real incomes of individuals and households have grown substantially due to increased employment chances and sustained economic growth in recent years. However the income that is distributed among the population is totally uneven. This is the reason for both absolute and relative poverty. Even though the British society has b ecome a developed one, recently studies have forecast that Britain has become a more unequal society since the last twenty five years. Inequality started its development from the rule of the labour government in 2001. There are many reasons for absolute and relative poverty in Britain. ... It depends on how you can confront them. This is not the case for absolute poverty where the main cause is purely economical. In western society, absolute poverty is not prevailing but there is relative poverty especially among the working class (Measuring poverty. 2010). Answer:2 Introduction: Reduction in inequality and poverty as well as promoting equity is considered as important macro economic objectives. In UK the widening gap between the rich and the poor has highlighted the importance of understanding the causes of relative and absolute poverty. It has also prompted to construct adequate policies for reducing the poverty and narrowing the income gap (Numbers in low income. 2009). One of the best ways to reduce the gap between the rich and poor thereby reducing the effect off poverty is to redistribute the wealth to the needy. For this purpose the government can use the tax and benefits system whereby they can intervene to promote equity as well as reduce inequality and relati ve poverty. This can be done through the tax and benefits system in which a progressive tax and benefits system is implemented that takes more tax on higher levels of income and redistributes it as welfare benefits to those who are in lower income groups. The original income can be adjusted in different ways so that it increases or decreases the post tax income. One among the benefits that can be provided to the poor is the cash benefits system. This is designed to help those who have zero income. This includes contributory as well as non contributory benefits. Contributory benefits include pensions, job seekers allowance, contributions of employers to national insurance fund and non contributory benefits include housing benefit, income supports, carers’ benefits as