[Vwdiesel] Biodiesel item

[Sandy Cameron]

Here's the text of the CTV news item on Biodiesel lfted from their web site,
www.CTV.ca

CTV News Staff

Vegetable oil has long been used to make french fries and donuts. But it's
also growing in popularity as a cleaner burning fuel source for diesel
engine cars. However, there are some challenges to overcome.

Made from new or used vegetable oils or animal fats, such as soybean oil or
canola, these renewable resources are essentially combined with alcohol and
a catalyst and stirred.

While it could be several years before biodiesel is available at the pump,
Jamie Delaney uses a homemade biodiesel fuel to run his 1996 Volkswagen Jetta.

"It smells like donuts. I wouldn't say french fries -- Chinese food or
donuts -- take your pick," Delaney said.

There are many benefits to biodiesel fuel. It reduces emissions, is
biodegradable, reduces dependence on imports and extends the life of diesel
engines because it is more lubricating than petroleum diesel fuel.

The production of biodiesel from recycled vegetable oils or soy would also
benefit the agriculture industry.
However, there are some challenges, such as cost. Biodiesel fuel costs about
two times as much as fossil diesel fuel. However, that problem could soon be
solved.

University of Toronto professor David Boocock has discovered a cheaper way
to manufacture biodiesel and Brampton-based BIOX Corporation is marketing it.

"We're in that position now where we can buy a great renewable fuel and not
have to pay a premium for the privilege," says Tim Haig, president of BIOX
Corp.

Boocock found that by using an inert, cheap, recyclable co-solvent, the
reaction becomes one phase instead of two, which means the fuel can be
produced in minutes, rather than hours as under the current process, called
transesterification.

BIOX says it intends to create plants that will produce biodiesel from any
vegetable and animal fat at a cost of 15 to 20 cents per litre Cdn, which
compares to the current cost of approximately 45 cents per litre.

Some other challenges to the wide-spread use of biodiesel fuel include
temperature. Cold causes the biodiesel to form small, solid, waxy crystals
that block fuel lines and filters.

Another company, called Big K Fuels Inc., is working on that problem and
have been able to produce biodiesel fuels that started engines at
temperatures as low as 5 degrees F, which is comparable to petroleum-based
diesel fuels.

They do that by using a three-step winterization process of mixing in
additives, chilling the fuel and filtering out solids.

Despite any obstacles, biodiesel fuel is already popular in the U.S. and
several European countries. France is currently the world's largest producer
of the fuel, using it as heating oil and also it in 50 per cent blends with
petrodiesel.

It's also gaining popularity in Canada. In June, the biodiesel industry
recently got a boost when the Ontario government announced it was removing a
14.3 cent per liter fuel tax on biodiesel fuels. It is the first province to
do so.

In Toronto, the entire diesel fleet of 400 Toronto Hydro vehicles are also
now powered by biodiesel fuel, which delivers the same torque, horsepower
and kilometres per litre as petroleum-powered diesels.