Happy National Biodiesel Day! With fuel prices soaring, what better time to recognize alternative fuel sources that are decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from plant oils or animal fats. Often these fats and oils are waste products that would otherwise require disposal. Instead, they are chemically reacted with alcohols and mixed with petroleum-based fuels. The result is a fuel with properties like petroleum-based diesel fuel that burns cleaner when combusted.
Another renewable biofuel is ethanol made from feedstock derived from plant material such as corn or wheat. The manufacturing process requires the fermentation of ground feedstock. The fermented liquid is distilled and denaturalized so it cannot not be consumed. The ethanol is added to petroleum-based gasoline resulting in a higher-octane fuel costing less at the pump. Many ethanol producers further process the feedstock and sell it as dry feed for ranch animals.
BriskHeat wishes to recognize our customers engaged in these activities as well as the companies in their supply chain. Many of these customers use BriskHeat self-regulating or constant wattage cable to prevent liquids from freezing or lower the viscosity of oils in pipelines. Silicone rubber heating blankets are used to remove moisture from grains, and laboratory heaters used for analyzing raw materials.
Renewable biofuels can be a WIN-WIN-WIN in that organic materials are recycled rather than requiring disposal, use in automobiles release fewer toxic pollutants into the air, and the addition of biofuels typically decrease fuel cost to consumers. Best of all, biodiesel can be used in any standard diesel engine without modification. Similarly, gasoline with small amounts of ethanol can be used as fuel in conventional cars. BriskHeat offers heating solutions to support companies producing biodiesel and other renewable fuels.
