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How
do you make biodiesel?
On Maui most biodiesel is made from used cooking
oil. This cooking oil is collected primarily from
restaurants that have deep fat fryers that cook
foods like French fries. These restaurants usually
hire a pumping company to collect their oil after
they are done with it, who then bring it to the
biodiesel processor. Once at the processor, the oil
is filtered, (if made from used cooking oil) and
put through a process called transesterification
which basically mixes vegetable oil with an alcohol
(usually methanol) and a catalyst, (usually lye.)
This process separates and creates two commodities,
biodiesel (the chemical name being methyl esters)
and glycerin (which is an ingredient in a lot of
soaps.)
Virgin vegetable oils can also be used to make
biodiesel. Quite often oils that are turned down as
food grade vegetable oil are used to make
biodiesel. Different plants contain different
amounts of oils. Depending on where it is farmed,
one can use several different plants to make
biodiesel. Some of the commonly used vegetable oils
to make biodiesel include: - mustard, rapeseed
(a.k.a. canola), palm, olive, peanut, soy bean,
safflower, sunflower, castor, etc.
Why
Biodiesel?
Fossil fuel is the primary cause of pollution in
the world. Biodiesel offers those who want a clean
environment the option to make a significant
beneficial impact by using a renewable fuel.
Sustainability? Or business (pollution) as usual?
Biodiesel dramatically reduces particulate matter
emissions and other federally targeted emissions
while helping to stabilize greenhouse gases.
Biodiesel is also non-toxic, biodegradable and free
of sulfur.
By choosing biodiesel over fossil fuels, you
will be supporting local farmers and the local
economy,instead of supporting the oil industry and
all the negative affects things that come along
with it... such as terorism, wars, oil spills,
global warming plus will be creating a healthier
environment for yourself and those around you!
Where
do I fuel up on Maui?
Our cars average 35-40 miles a gallon and over
400 miles on a tank, which means most renters
easily drive a week without having to fuel up! That
includes driving Lahaina, Kihei, Haleakala, and
Hana, etc...
Pacific Biodiesel is centerally located near the
airport in Kahului, at 40 Hobron street. They have
a 24 hour pump so you can refuel anytime.
Even though there is only one station on Maui,
the island is small, and no one is ever over 65
miles from the station at the farthest spot! If you
are driving to Haleakala or the road to Hana,
besides kahaului, etc... you will pass very close
to the station.
In cases of emergency, one can use a small
amount of regular diesel, in place of biodiesel, to
get you to the biodiesel station.
Pacific Biodiesel is one of the original
producers of biodiesel. Their biodiesel is always
up to ASTM standards and are committed to only
using sustainable oils for their biodiesel.
Green
Celebrities!
Some of the more famous
renters and/or biodiesel supporters we have had in
Hawaii include:
Ralph Nader
Dennis Kucinich
Willy Nelson
Woody Harrelson
Alanis Morissette
Alicia Silverstone
Melissa Etherridge
David Blain
Danny Devito
Rhea Pearlman
Flea
Shawn Wayans
Melissa Etheridge
Jason Lewis
For
more
information on Biodiesel visit:
www.biodieseldiscussion.com
or www.biodiesel.org or
Pacific Biodiesel
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