Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils, used cooking oils, and animal fats by the production process called “trans-esterification” to convert those mixtures to the chemicals which have long chain mono alkyl esters or fatty acid methyl esters which can be used as “fuel” for vehicles. Approximately, 100 pounds of vegetable oil react with 10 pounds of alcohol (commonly methanol) in the presence of a catalyst, sodium hydroxide; later, 100 pounds of biodiesel and 10 pounds of glycerol (co-product) can be produced. For the glycerol which can be used for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Therefore, biodiesel can be considered as totally natural, alternative fuel source to be available for using in most of cases as similar as petrol or more specifically, “diesel distilled from petroleum”. Biodiesel is much safer than diesel from petroleum when biodiesel is escaped to the surrounding environment; moreover, it is much less inflammable as biodiesel’s flashpoint is 130°C as compared to petroleum diesel which is only 52°C. As a result, biodiesel is low-risk to be stored, kept, and delivered (U.S Department of Energy). Trans-esterification reaction can be illustrated as following: Triglyceride + Alcohol → Methyl esters (biodiesel) + Glycerol (Vegetable oil) (Methanol) FIGURE 1.1 Typical trans-esterification reaction is carried out to produce Biodiesel (AOCS Lipid Library) Furthermore, biodiesel can be produced from the tobacco seed and soya bean which tobacco seed oil reduces the
The main way that oil and natural gas reserves are acquired are through the means of Fracking. Also known as hydrofracking, this method utilizes a drill that drills down thousands of feet underground, which is then flushed with millions of gallons of water along with additive chemicals at high pressures to break the rocks sheltering the reserves. This method of attainment is quite risky as it comes with many unfavorable consequences that are quite unbeneficial. Like fossil fuel plants, fracking also releases greenhouse gasses like methane(Potential Health and Environmental Effects of Hydrofracking in the Williston Basin, Montana), which is worse than carbon dioxide and causes air pollution. Alongside that, pollutants like Benzene and Xylene also leak out during the fracking process, which is known to cause serious health conditions and even death in some cases due to the long exposure to the pollutants(Potential Health and
Alberta’s economy as we see it right now is not doing the greatest. Our main resource that we depend on, our oil, is continually going down in value. Looking ahead to the future Alberta is going to need a resource away from oil. A solution that could be very beneficial for Alberta is changing over to ethanol fuel. By changing our cars to using ethanol fuel we could help the environment immensely and also help boost our economy.
The Oil Sands - The Way to Go or Time to Say No? The Oil Sands are a large source of energy in Canada which meet large demands for energy. Alysa Encarnacion, Editorial Writer May 14, 2017 ATHABASCA — The Oil Sands are the “heart” of Canada’s economy, rewarding us with 1.7 trillion dollars. There are both benefits and cons to the Oil Sands, affecting Canada economically, socially, politically, and environmentally. The Oil Sands have contributed $91 billion to Canada’s GDP.
There are three main types of ester hydrolysis reactions: base-facilitated hydrolysis (saponification), acid-catalyzed hydrolysis (with the reverse reaction the Fischer Esterification), and enzymatic hydrolysis, triggered by lipases. Base-facilitated hydrolysis generally uses aqueous NaOH as a reagent, providing the base that attacks the carbonyl and begins the hydrolysis. Saponification hydrolyzes esters into carboxylic acids or fatty acids and alcohols. This has been used for thousands of years to produce soap from fatty acids as the salts produced from saponification can dissolve fats, surrounding them with micelles and allowing them to be easily removed with water1. It can also be used to produce glycerol from triglycerides.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method used access the natural gas that exist in the shale formation layer which is around 6000 feet below ground, in a cost effective way. After fracking horizontally, they blast the water mixed with salt and chemicals into the bedrock. Due to high level of pressure shale is cracked and the gas bubble is released. Natural gas flows back to the well head at the surface. This method of gas extraction has never previously been used on such a wide scale as its being used now.
The Pros and Cons of GMO’S It is no lie that genetically modified organisms(GMO’s) technology is an amazing thing. But is it the necessarily the best thing for the environment. There are many arguments on the subject. I personally think that there is good and bad in the subject.
I think that you should reduced the Alberta’s oil sands. For instance it 's causing global warming, which is bad for our environment and future generations. My first reason is that its ruining homes for animals and birds, for example according to research oil sands are located in breeds grounds which is a place for birds. My second reason is that its bad for the envorimoent because its ruining our foress, and seas with the smell when it mixeses with water.
When my family came home with an electric car, I wondered what was wrong with our gas car. I had never heard of an electric vehicle, or the advantages of owning one. This led me to the conclusion that an electric vehicle was unnecessary and just a waste of money. What I did not realize, was that there was so much more to an electric vehicle than it being a unique design. As upon learning more about this topic, it led me to many questions, that I now have confident answers to.
Which picture of shale gas development—cornucopia or curse— is the true one? This study finds that they both are. It presents the results of a qualitative review of articles discussing shale gas and hydraulic fracturing, drawn mostly from the peer-reviewed energy studies literature, published in the past 10 years. On the one hand, this review finds that shale gas production, done properly, can bring with it wide-ranging benefits including the enhancement of energy security, lower natural gas prices, a cleaner environmental footprint than some other fossil fuels, and economic development. On the other hand, it finds that done poorly, it can be prone to accidents and leakage, contribute to environmental degradation, induce earthquakes, and, when
The vehicles has turned into a vital part of today's general public. It is a need to claim or to have entry to an auto to stay aware of the greater part of the opposition of the business world, furthermore one's social requests. A great many people would not have the capacity to go around a nation or the world without this unimaginable machine, for it gives flexibility and portability, actually for individuals who don't possess an auto. Lamentably, the auto has an extremely ruinous nature. Autos make a real commitment to air and commotion contamination, the consumption of fossil energizes, and the irregularities in youngsters and grown-ups because of lead harming.
Bio-diesel production yields undesirable by-products for example methanol and glycerin. These by-products are removed so that the bio-diesel is suitable for use. Fractional distillation is used in the essential oil, flavor and fragrance industry. Raw essential oils are extracted from different plants such as mint, clove and tee tree for example. These raw oils contains impurities that have a bad flavour or odor.
Fossil fuels Fossil fuels are NOT a renewable energy resource it will finish up one day As once we 've burned them all, there isn 't any more, and our consumption of fossil fuels has nearly doubled every 20 years since 1900. This is a particular problem for Oil, because we also use it to make plastics and many other products Coal, Oil and Gas are called "fossil fuels" because they have been formed from the fossilized remains of prehistoric plants and animals.
A major issue today is the emissions of greenhouse gasses, which harm the ozone layer causing climate change. Internal combustion vehicles are one of the contributors to the greenhouse gas effect and can be reduced by diminishing the use of internal combustion vehicles and introduce electric vehicles. In the article “The car and fuel of the future” Joseph Romm a former Acting Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, states that “the car of the near future is the hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle because it can reduce gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions 30 to 50% with no change in vehicle class and hence no loss of jobs or compromise on safety or performance. It will likely become the
Should we pursue alternate energy sources? I feel that we should pursue alternate energy sources. It would stop pollution and global warming from happening so sudden, as we have it currently in our generation. Using renewable energy means that we will never run out of the energy we need.
The first is mixing it with petroleum diesel fuel, solvent, or gasoline. The second is using the oil as it is, usually called SVO fuel (straight vegetable fuel). The third is converting it to biodiesel. Vegetable oil is much thicker than either petro-diesel or biodiesel.