There are many different benefits realized with the use biodiesel fuel. By filling up on biodiesel instead of traditional petroleum diesel you are contributing to making a more energy independent and secure America by decreasing our dependence on foreign oil and increasing the domestic economy of our nations farmers. Biodiesel as well helps greatly to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses, unburned hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Biodiesel is also the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act as on 2005.

There are many other great benefits to using Biodiesel such as:

• Emissions
• Biodegradability
• Toxicity
• Lubricity

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Drastically reduces CO2 emissions (up to 80%) and ultimately global warming through its closed carbon cycle characteristics.

Reduces the exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates, which are the major components of acid rain.

May reduce hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions that are ozone or smog forming precursors (depending on the duty cycle of the engine and testing methods used).

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

The smell of exhaust fumes has been described as much less offensive than petroleum diesel exhaust. Many have linked the smell to such things as french fries and doughnuts.

It has been found that biodiesel degrades at a much faster rate than that of conventional diesel fuel (approximately 4 times as fast). The fuel breaks down almost completely after just 28 days. Because of this a fuel blend of B20 for example, (a 20% biodiesel blend) would degrade twice as fast as No. 2 diesel. This goes to illustrate that biodiesel use can demonstrate significant biodegradability benefits at levels lower than 100%.

There have been many studies measuring the toxicity of biodiesel. Many results have shown that biodiesel fuel is far less toxic than that of petroleum diesel fuel. Some studies have even shown biodiesel to be less toxic than salt in certain characteristics.

Lubricity is one of the most important factors when considering long-term use of engines and engine parts. In order to best protect such large investments as trucks, tractors, or other diesel equipment precautions should be made. With the new regulations surrounding Low Sulfur and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel production a great deal of lubricity is lost due to the refining process.

With the lubricity of conventional diesel fuel being scrutinized due to processing changes required to reduce the sulfur and aromatic content of diesel fuel, biodiesel use can be demonstrated to be a benefit. Lubricity test utilizing both the High Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR) and the Ball On Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator (BOCLE) have demonstrated the lubricity advantage of biodiesel.

Low Sulfur and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel require additives to add the lubricity back into the fuel, biodiesel is a totally renewable additive for this role and complements the use of ULSD.