# data[].attributes.body
Will biodiesel, or biofuels for that matter, overtake petroleum or diesel as the main fuel source for cars, or will another alternative fuel/energy source prevail, such as electric cars?

Will Kanye become President in 2020?

# data[].attributes.body
Food Shortage: Since biofuels are made from animal and vegetable fat, more demand for these products may raise prices for these products and create food crisis in some countries. For e.g.: the production of biodiesel from corn may raise its demand and it might become more expensive which may deprive poor people from having it.

Water Shortage: The use of water to produce more crops can put pressure on local water resources. The areas where there is water scarcity, production of crops to be used in making of biofuels is not a wise idea.

Use of Petroleum Diesel to Produce Biodiesel: It requires much amount of energy to produce biodiesel fuel from soy crops as energy is needed for sowing, fertilising and harvesting crops. Apart from that, raw material needs to be transported through trucks which may consume some additional fuel. Some scientists believe that producing one litre of biofuel needs energy equivalent to several litres of petroleum fuel.

# data[].attributes.body
When biodiesel is burnt, it produces significantly less carbon output and few pollutants compared to petroleum diesel; biodiesel produces less soot (particulate matter), carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and sulfur dioxide.

Biodiesel is a renewable energy source unlike other petroleum products that will vanish in years to come. Since it is made from animal and vegetable fat, it can be produced on demand and also causes less pollution than petroleum diesel.

Better Fuel Economy: Vehicles that run on biodiesel achieve 30% fuel economy than petroleum based diesel engines which means it makes fewer trips to petrol stations and run more kilometre per litre.

# data[].attributes.body
Specific energy (MJ/kg): 37.8

Energy Density (MJ/L): 33.3 – 35.7

CO2 Gas made from Fuel Used (kg/kg): ~2.85

Energy per CO2 (MJ/kg): ~13.26

# data[].attributes.body
Biodiesel is not carbon neutral, because fossil fuels are used in their production, e.g. in making fertilisers for growing plants.

# data[].attributes.headline
Products of combustion and any environmental impacts which result from this.

# data[].attributes.subject
Products of combustion and any environmental impacts which result from this.

# data[].attributes.body
The products of biodiesel combustion are:

Nitrogen gas (N2) - Air is 78-percent nitrogen gas.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) - The carbon in the fuel bonds with the oxygen in the air.

Water vapour (H2O).

Carbon monoxide (CO) - A colourless and odourless poisonous gas.

Hydrocarbons (HC) or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) -
Produced mostly from unburned fuel that evaporates. Sunlight breaks these down to form oxidants, which react with oxides of nitrogen to cause ground level ozone (O3), a major component of smog.

Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 - Contributes to smog and acid rain, and also causes irritation to human mucus membranes.

# data[].attributes.body
Three well-publicised environmental impacts:

Emissions from growing the feedstock (e.g. Petrochemicals used in fertilizers).

Emissions from transporting the feedstock to the factory.

Emissions from processing the feedstock into biodiesel.

# data[].attributes.headline
How is it obtained and any environmental impacts which result this?

# data[].attributes.subject
How is it obtained and any environmental impacts which result this?

# data[].attributes.body
The process in which biodiesel is produced is called transesterification. Biodiesel starts out in the form of an organic oil molecule called a triglyceride. To make biodiesel, a catalyst is needed, which is then dissolved into methanol. The oil is heated and the methoxide is mixed in and the chemical reaction begins. As the catalyst, either KOH or NaOH, is mixed with the oil, it breaks the chemical bond between the fatty acid chain and the glycerol back bone. A methanol molecule then attaches to the fatty acid chain and a biodiesel molecule is created.

# data[].attributes.body
Biodiesel is a biofuel, which is a renewable source of energy because it can be relatively easily replaced after usage.