The benefits of soy biodiesel on the environment

Soy biodiesel fuel is unquestionably good for the environment in several ways. First of all, in order to create soy biodiesel fuel, soybean plants must be grown. These soy crops add valuable oxygen to the air and help clean the air as the plants undergo photosynthesis.

Reduces Dependence Upon Petroleum

Soy biodiesel is also beneficial to the environment because it reduces the dependence on petroleum fuel. This benefits the environment because the process of extracting petroleum virtually destroys the ground in that area. Furthermore, processing petroleum creates pollution in the atmosphere. Also, soybeans are a renewable resource and petroleum, which is a fossil fuel, is not. This means it is possible to use up all of the available petroleum fuel. Using soy biodiesel helps reduce our consumption of this valuable fossil fuel so it can be preserved for other uses.

Better Exhaust

Burning soy biodiesel in engines is also better for the environment than burning petroleum based diesel fuel. In fact, soy biodiesel exhaust has been shown to produce no harmful side effects to humans, unlike petroleum-based diesel, which has many adverse effects on human health. In fact, soy biodiesel, and other forms of biodiesel, is the first form of alternative fuel to pass the Clean Air Act testing requirements.

In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency showed in the year 2000 that soy biodiesel, and other forms of biodiesel, actually reduce air toxins by 90%! Some of the emissions soy biodiesel reduces include unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Furthermore, the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture performed a joint study in 1998. Amazingly, the study found that the life-cycle of carbon dioxide is reduced by 78% with soy biodiesel and other forms of biodiesel fuel when compared with petroleum based diesel.

These studies found that a simple 2% mix of soy biodiesel, or other forms of biodiesel, causes a reduction in carbon monoxide emissions greater than 25 million pounds per year. In addition, this blend reduces hydrocarbon emissions, which reduce the ozone, by almost 4 million pounds per year. Sulfur dioxide emissions, which cause acid rain, are also reduced by more than 3 million pounds per year.

Non-toxic and Biodegradable

Soy biodiesel is also biodegradable and nontoxic. Safely disposing of petroleum based diesel is nearly impossible. Dumping it in the ground pollutes the ground and, ultimately, pollutes the water supply, as well. On the other hand, soy biodiesel contains only non-harmful ingredients that do not pollute the ground. In fact, soy biodiesel is 10 times less toxic than ordinary table salt! In addition, it biodegrades at a rate as fast as the rate sugar biodegrades.

With all of the benefits to the environment produced by soy biodiesel, it is easy to understand why so many people are looking toward its use to replace petroleum-based diesel.