New Era In Fuel Developement Is Coming!

[zibby]

Researchers are working on ways to turn virtually anything organic into fuel that could power vehicles.

In one pilot project in Georgia, fuel made from chicken fat powers school buses.

"The part of the chicken we use is the fat. And it comes from a renderer. They use every part of the chicken for something," said Greg Hopkins of U.S. Biofuels.

While things are still in an experimental stage, scientists say they have figured out ways to convert almost anything organic into fuel.

"Anything that was once a living thing -- plant life or animal -- can become fuel," said P.J. Sampson of Renewable Environmental Solutions.

For example, turkey parts are made into gasoline and heating oil. Pork fat is used to make fuel for cars....

[jkayca]

Wasn't there another article a few weeks a go that said the energy required to turn organic matter into usable fuel was more than the energy contained in the fuel? I still think bio fuels are a long way off.

[PMB]

You are right about the cost outweighing the benefit. However, if you drive a diesel it will happily run on cooking oil like Mazola, or cheaper brands. It is illegal because you are not paying tax though.

If that can be overcome strike a deal with KFC and McD's to take all their old cooking oil off their hands instead of them having to pay to dispose of it. Run it through a good filter and hey presto free fuel!!!

[drz]

We made biodiesel in class once. I think it requires a bit more than just filtering the oil. We added some stuff, I remember.

[PMB]

It depends how powerful you want the fuel. You can add White Spirit to improve combustion. If you are really adventurous you can add some Nitro fuel as used in radio controled cars, boats and planes. That is simply castor oil with nitro added.

You should google it it is a very interesting and simple subject