Greenleaf Biofuels: FAQs

What is biodezl?
Biodezl is a brand name biodiesel fuel marketed by Greenleaf Biofuels, LLC. Biodiesel is a cleaner burning, domestic and renewable fuel that can be refined from vegetable oil, animal fats or waste grease. The biodiesel we sell is made from virgin soy bean oil grown on American farms. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines and oil-fired home heating systems with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

What is the technical definition of biodiesel?
Biodiesel, n-a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, designated B100, and meeting the requirements of ASTM D 6751.

How is biodiesel made?
Biodiesel is refined from vegetable oils through a fairly simple chemical reaction called transesterification. Vegetable oils primarily consist of triglycerides: three carbon chains connected by a glycerin molecule. In the reaction process, an alcohol (methanol or ethanol) is used with a catalyst (potassium or sodium hydroxide) to separate the glycerin molecule from the carbon chains. The long carbon chains in biodiesel have a very similar profile to petroleum middle distillates. The fatty acid alkyl esters, the chemical name for biodiesel, are then separated from the co-product glycerol. The glycerol mixture can be refined into glycerin - a valuable pharmaceutical ingredient used in soaps and other health and beauty products.

What is the energy balance of biodiesel?
Independent studies show that for every one unit of fossil energy put into the production of biodiesel, the yield is 3.2 units of energy out. This is the highest energy balance of any transportation fuel.

Will I need to make any modifications to my diesel car, truck or tractor?
If your vehicle is a 1994 model year or newer, no modifications are needed. Older vehicles will need to have fuel lines and fuel pump gaskets replaced if you run high biodiesel blends (>B30) for an extended period of time. Biodiesel contains a natural solvent that degrades older rubber formulations. Newer materials such as Teflon and Viton resist solvents. This solvent also cleans your fuel system. In older vehicles the petroleum sediment dislodged in the fuel tank may begin to clog your fuel filter. This is a temporary condition that can be overcome simply by replacing your fuel filter. Any loss of power or fuel mileage may indicate a clogged filter.

Can I use biodiesel in the winter?
Yes, but you must blend pure biodiesel with petrodiesel when operating in temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. A B50 blend is operational down to 15 degrees, and B20 is operational down to -5 degrees. The B100 should be dispensed at a minimum of 50 degrees when blending with petrodiesel in the winter.

Where can I get more information on using biodiesel?
See the NREL's Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines: http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/pdfs/tp36182.pdf

Why should I use biodiesel?
Biodiesel offers exceptional lubricity for prolonged engine life. Using biodiesel also supports our domestic economy, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and enhances our national security. Furthermore, using biodiesel will significantly decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, unburned hydrocarbons and particulate matter that contribute to lung disease. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. Biodiesel in its pure form (B100):

• is less toxic than table salt

• biodegrades as fast as sugar

• blends easily with petroleum products

• reduces CO2 emissions by up to 78% (16% in a B20 blend)

• substantially reduces unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter, thus reducing the localized formation of smog

• dramatically reduces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nPAH), which have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds

• essentially eliminates emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (20% reduction in a B20 blend), thus reducing major components of acid rain.

Can I purchase biodiesel blends in bulk?
Yes. We can deliver biodiesel blends through our distribution partners for your fleet or retail station.

What is bioheat?
Bioheat is a term used for blends of home heating oil
and biodiesel. Greenleaf Biofuels advocates the use of Bioheat B20, a blend of 80% low sulfur No. 2 home heating oil and 20% biodiesel. This blend percentage ensures the safe and consistent operation of current equipment while maximizing the economic, environmental and health benefits of biodiesel.

What does Bxx mean?
In its pure form (B100), biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any ratio with petroleum middle distillates to create a biodiesel blend. Petroleum middle distillates include No. 2 diesel, No. 2 home heating oil and No. 1 kerosene. Bxx refers to the biodiesel/petroleum ratio used to create the blend, where xx represents the volume percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend.

Will I need to make any changes to my heating system?
No. One of the greatest features of bioheat blends up to B20 is that they are “drop-in” fuels that can be used in your existing heating system without any modifications. Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island has successfully completed extensive tests of bioheat blends, including B20. Note: If you have a particularly old storage tank, the fuel filter may need to be replaced after a few deliveries because the biodiesel will act as a cleaning agent in your tank.

How much does bioheat cost?
Greenleaf Biofuels and its partners are committed to the success of bioheat, and therefore will only charge a small premium for this clean, renewable fuel. You can expect to pay 5 cents to 25 cents more per gallon for bioheat, depending on the percentage of biodiesel and on your current source for home heating oil. Please consider what it is worth to you and your family to use biofuel from the Midwest rather than petroleum from the Middle East. Look at the benefits below, and you will see that bioheat is an easy choice.

Can bioheat help mitigate global warming?
Yes. CO2 is the leading greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. A 1998 biodiesel lifecycle study, jointly sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture, concluded biodiesel reduces net CO2 emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel. This is due to biodiesel’s closed carbon cycle:
the CO2 released into the atmosphere when biodiesel is burned is recycled by growing plants, which are later processed into fuel. Heat your home, not the planet!

Why should I use bioheat?
Using bioheat supports our domestic economy, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and enhances our national security. Furthermore, using bioheat will significantly decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, unburned hydrocarbons and particulate matter that contribute to lung disease. Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act.
Biodiesel in its pure form (B100):