Jatropha Curcas

What Biofuel Means For Us, the Economy, The Ecology, And The Future Of Our Civilization

2012-01-24T04:49:00.000-08:00

It is a very human trait to look at the world around us and assume it will always be the same. It will provide us with all the resources we need because it always has. We have water, air, energy supplies and food. Mother Nature is kind.

Here's the catch, though. Mother Nature was, in fact, designed to be self-sustaining. Had the environment been allowed to grow and thrive the way it was intended, we wouldn't have a problem. Natural predatory systems would be in place. Plants and animals would be abundant. The earth itself would overflow with the precious natural resources we take for granted, including the oil we need to make our fuel.

Mother Nature didn't foresee that human beings would interfere in her plan and screw everything up. She didn't know how fast and furiously we would consume natural resources without replenishing them. She didn't foresee that our population would grow exponentially to the point where we are running out of everything on our precious planet in a big hurry.

With the evolution of the earth's natural rhythms our earth did not foresee that human beings would chime in and upset her timing mechanisms.

The Need for Biofuel

The earth has taken millenniums to replace natural resources used in the production of petroleum. It takes far less time than that to grow and convert natural oils which are capable of replacing fossil fuels in specific testing environments. This process is not unusual throughout the European continent.

Conventional biofuels are produced from sugar, starch and vegetable oils much like those you use in your kitchen. There are programs underway right now geared to the transformation of restaurant waste into biofuel. This illustrates the ease with which we can find the resources to give us a more sustainable energy future.

Biofuel Advantages

"We should increase our development of alternative fuels, taking advantage of renewable resources, like using corn and sugar to produce ethanol or soybeans to produce biodiesel." - Bobby Jindal

Right now, we find ourselves in fierce competition for the natural resources needed to create conventional fuels with countries overseas. This competition drives up the price, limits the availability of the product and generally makes it a non-sustainable form of energy.

Raw materials necessary for biofuel can be grown domestically and not need to be imported. This results in a durable supply of a more sustainable system than we can count on at this moment. Biofuel is clean and drastically reduces the damage done to our air by our modern transportation systems. Production is also cheaper than using fossil fuels as an energy base.

The Question is then why doesn't Biofuel Rule?

With its many advantages, one would think that biofuels would own the transportation market. The main answer to this question is in the way we manufacture automobiles. Many biofuel techniques and usages remain in the testing phase today.

In short, while we don't see biofuel taking over the oil industry just yet, it's only a matter of time. When that day comes, everyone's going to feel the benefits. Starting with Mother Nature.

For those who were interested in the above article, you may go take a look at more related posts at Angie Tewis or this Angie Tewis Post.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angie_Tewis

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6721971

Tips And Advice For Buying Small Solar Panels

2011-11-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

Energy capture technology that uses the power of the sun is now no longer a far off dream. Solar panels have become a ubiquitous sight in our lives. They offer a simple way to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. If we were all to adapt this green technology, the damage being caused to the environment and atmospheric systems would be reduced almost immediately. If you have an interest in learning more about this renewable form of energy, and integrating photovoltaic cells into your life, the following information should be of use to you.

First of all it is worth noting that there are a number of different panels available today. These can be classified into three groups - portable, residential, and commercial. Over the last five years there has been a lot of research into the usability of small photovoltaic cells.

Small, portable, energy harnessing systems have a number of useful applications. There are now solar panels available that can be used to charge up various electronic gadgets, for example mobile phones and netbooks. Also, those that are of a compact size can be integrated into outdoor lighting to reduce the need for mains supplied electricity.

If you have an interest in purchasing a photovoltaic panel for personal use, there are a number of factors that you should analyze prior to making a purchase. An important consideration will be the cost. As the technology become widespread, the outlay involved is a lot more affordable. There are now portable solar chargers available that can be had for less than two hundred dollars. These are a great gadget to have on hand when on an outdoor expedition or fishing trip. Likewise, you can purchase PV lights that would not cost you a great deal more than a regular design.

The wattage of the panel is also an important consideration, this relates to the amount of electricity that can be produced. It is useful to be aware of your energy requirements before investing in a product. Related to wattage, the efficiency of photovoltaic cells does differ. Always understand how suitable the panel would be for the amount of sunlight that is available in your region.

Another important factor, that should help you to make the right choice, is the warranty. Most solar cells have no mechanical parts, for this reason they have an inherent durability. Nevertheless it is still important to opt for a product that has an extensive warranty in case a circuit becomes damaged.

Great tips and advice for buying small yet effective solar panels now in our

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henry_Kent

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5569170

Alternative Fuels - Are Biofuels the Way to Go?

2011-11-07T06:28:00.000-08:00

Biofuels, for those who aren't yet aware, are one of the most promising ways to help to lower our dependency on fossil fuels as well as on oil from foreign countries.

Bio- fuel technology is available for those who want use it and sustainability is just one positive benefit of biofuel techniques. Biofuels are not, however, the be-all and end all that they have been touted as. In fact, many professors, energy experts, and scientists are warning that biofuels are still carbon fuels, a fact which tends to escape many of us as we proclaim them to be preferable for the environment.

The reality is that long term testing hasn't been done on biofuels and we don't know the effect they may have on our environment. That being said, biofuel are the prime example of a totally renewable source of energy and the production of biofuels to power vehicles and other engines would be a major step to taking us away from our reliance on other countries and on the oils and fossil/carbon fuels that are not so renewable.

Ethanol, one of the most popular types of biofuel is simply not sustainable because it uses almost as much energy to convert the corn as the energy it may provide, meant that it is simply too inefficient to be used. Scientists though think that they may have an answer and it's one that offers more fuel energy per a smaller amount of fuel materials needed.

The latest biofuel exploration seems to be heading out to sea. The most serious limitation that we have in our present exploration of the non-fossil fuels is the lack of products with which to make them, as well as the high cost that is incurred for their use--one issue feeding into the other.

Soybeans and corn, the major feed stock materials that are also used to make most biofuels are not an endless supply. The same can't be said though of the algae that scientists are working with. Algae is nearly endless in the supply and with the right conditions, that is to say, just about anywhere at all that has brackish water or salt water or swampy areas, you can grow the algae. The growth of algae is not a seasonal one, which means that you can get more than 20-30 times the production of the normal crops that have been typically used for biofuels.

Crops of algae can be grown on wastewater and even have a positive potential for help to recycle carbon dioxide that is currently spewing from business and industries. One man, Professor Cushman who has been working with algae as a replacement for other crops in the making of biofuels has found a way that he could extend the growth season up to about nine month even in a cold climate, making algae our best bet for new sources of biofuels.

Of his work, Cushman says that their long term goal is to find strains of algae that are the most suitable to making biofuels. They want to identify the most viable and most energy producing algae strains to learn how to improve the production of the fuels that we need It is the belief of science that they can significantly alter the biofuel industry using algae to produce it.

The bottom line is that we've got a far better chance of making some truly lower cost and far more usable biofuel with algae. It not only grows better, it actually puts out more energy or fuel, than land based crops.

[http://www.cheapsolarpanelsreview.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4943433

Biofuel Fireplaces - Environment Friendly Options For You

2011-09-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

The problem of pollution is increasing day by day that is why it has become extremely essential to put a stop to this problem. These days people are trying to use various alternatives that can put a control on pollution. If you are using traditional fireplaces then you can now replace them with the biofuel options that are environment friendly and extremely affordable. Traditional fireplaces make your home look very appealing but they surely require a lot of maintenance and cleaning on a daily basis. If you do not have the time or energy to clean the fire pits then the biofuel is surely the most efficient option for you. Most people live in small apartments and flats that are not very spacious hence a traditional option would not be very suitable for them.

Biofuel fire pit is the most suitable option for those people who do not have the money or space to get a separate inglenook constructed at home. These options originated in Europe and after they gained immense popularity they were exported to other parts of the world. A great advantage of this option is that you do not have to get a chimney constructed for them.

Biofuel inglenooks are very convenient for keeping your home warm. So, if you are looking for some important information about this equipment, you must surely consult this article.

1. Environment friendly
The fuel that is used in the fireplace is environment friendly and you do not have to worry about the smoke or the ash. The fumes that come out are not at all suffocating and harmful for your health. People who suffer from allergies related to smoke and ash must certainly consider this option for their homes. The fuel that is basically used is ethanol and it comes in the liquid form. It is easily available in the market and you can order it from online websites as well. Some other natural materials can also be used as the fuel. It depends totally on you to select the most appropriate option for your equipment.

2. Easy to purchase
The biofuel options are very easy to purchase and they are available in various home improvement stores these days. If you want to purchase some affordable options then you can also search on the internet for some economical option. During the off season and sale period you can really avail some great discounts on these items. People who already have installed traditional fireplaces at home can get the option converted into a biofuel one. As the biofuel option does not require a chimney, you will not face any problems during the conversion.

3. Advantages of biofuel fireplace
There are various benefits of installing this option.
• They are energy efficient when compared to the traditional options.
• You do not need additional installments for this option.
• It is a very affordable option that is easily available in the market.

So, what are you waiting for, just visit the market and purchase the best biofuel option that would be the most efficient for your home.

For more information on choosing the right Biofuel Fireplaces for your home,visit our site Electric Fireplaces.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Loren_Taylor

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6303911

The Benefits Of Using Renewable Biofuels

2011-09-24T15:40:00.001-07:00

An alternative to using traditional fossil fuels for powering diesel engine vehicles and heating homes that is growing in popularity is biofuel. Biofuel is a renewable energy source as it consists of agricultural products like soybeans. It can also be made from WVOs (also known as Waste Vegetable Oils) and is often found discarded in restaurants, making it a readily available resource in most areas. Whatever the materials renewable biofuels is made of, the benefits of using this alternative fuel source is tremendous.

With gas prices rising higher and higher at the pumps, it is no wonder that citizens are contemplating a substitute fuel source. There are benefits to using biodiesel blends that employ as little as five percent of biofuel mixed with diesel. Just a small change like that can offer a significant price reduction in fueling your vehicle. Blends range from one percent and can go as high as ninety nine percent biodiesel mixed with one percent petroleum diesel. The mixes are marked with a "B" and the percentage of how much biofuel is contained within the blend. There is also B100 available, which is a pure renewable biodiesel. These are all effortless to utilize, non-toxic and biodegradable.

Using any blend of renewable biofuels greatly reduces your impact on the environment and lightens your carbon footprint. The air quality is helped considerably by the biofuel burning cleaner than traditional fossil fuels. Renewable biofuels do not contribute to the pollution caused by burning diesel fuel. This pollution in turn has been linked with health problems associated with lung cancers, respiratory illnesses, allergies and asthma attacks.

In some cases, heart and respiratory disorders have resulted in death from the impact diesel pollution has made. Another benefit to using renewable biofuel energy is the reduction of life cycle emissions and greenhouse gasses. With a reduction in global warming, the effects of our heated planet could start to reverse and in turn protect us and future generations from one of the biggest threats that Earth faces.

Another big benefit of switching to renewable biofuels is the resulting freedom and independence from foreign oil sources. By relying on a domestic fuel source, the need to borrow money to import oil can be eliminated. And another result of cutting off foreign oil trade is the creation of a new job market. With hundreds of thousands of jobs generated across the country, the recent economic downturn could be righted. The agricultural field and rural development could also see stimulation.

From clean energy to green technology, Alexander Sutton is involved with a number of green endeavors and wishes to spread awareness about environmentally friendly issues. For more information, please visit Renewable Biofuels.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Sutton

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6205243

The Benefits Of Using Renewable Biofuels

2011-09-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Biofuel Production - Is Membrane Technology the Answer?

2011-08-22T09:16:00.001-07:00

Biofuel production with the help of membrane filtration technology is not entirely new technology as some think it is. In fact we are talking here about tried and proved industrial method that has been utilized in many industrial facilities, and after many positive experiences has been now implemented in biofuels production.

Many energy experts expect that with the help of membrane filtration technology "second-generation" cellulosic ethanol production could be significantly improved, especially in terms of fuel recovery as well as getting as much as possible secondary products from the used feedstock. To put things as simply as possible this new technology should mostly help improve the efficiency of biofuel production by offering lower overall energy costs.

The things you need to know about the membranes used in this process is that they are highly engineered, and they are designed to allow the passage of materials only up to a certain size and shape. As said above the process of membrane filtration has been used extensively in several different industry facilities for many years. The best examples to mention here would be sugar, food, wine, and similar other enzyme manufacturing sectors.

But let us get back to biofuel production. Membrane filtration technology is becoming very important in production of biodiesel, where membranes are used to facilitate water reuse, this is especially helpful in areas where water is scarce..

Energy experts expect that within this decade we will see lot more biofuel facilities that will use this process for biofuel production. This should also increase the popularity of biodiesel and other biofuels on global level.

Ned Hall has so far written many interesting articles about biofuels, as well as many other interesting renewable energy articles

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ned_Hall

Cellulosic Biofuel Issues

2011-08-07T15:53:00.001-07:00

There are many different types of fuel available for use by consumers for transportation purposes. Some of these fuels are sourced from naturally occurring deposits below the earth's surface. Crude oil, a form of fossil fuel, is one of the most common types of substances extracted from deposits deep below the earth's surface. Crude oil is processed into a useable substance, either gasoline or diesel fuel, that can be used in automobiles, trucks, locomotives, ships and generators. Although fossil fuels are the most common fuel sources, they are also some of the least efficient and produce some of the highest levels of carbon emissions of any fuel. Carbon emissions can be harmful to environmental processes, which is undesirable and there is a finite natural source which may be depleted very rapidly at the present rate of consumption.

There have been technological advancements that allow the use of non-fossil based materials that can be converted into useable products that can, in part, replace fossil fuels. One of the materials that have used to produce biofuels is corn. Corn is a reasonably good alternative fuel source. However, there are some downfalls of corn as a feedstock; it needs to be replanted in order to have a crop each growing cycle. While corn is a good alternative to fossil fuel, some argue, there are even better alternatives know as cellulosic biofuels.

Biofuels are fuels produced from organic materials that are grown rather than drilled for in deposits found in the earth. Cellulosic biofuel is fuel that is produced from organic sources but not from corn or other high sugar content feedstock. It is actually produced by using feedstock that is alternative to corn feedstock. Wood chips are just one example of an alternative feedstock source. Another example is algae; algae are very abundant and are very easily renewable as a feedstock choice.

Cellulosic biofuel is fast becoming a viable option to traditional fossil fuel based products. The abundance of material is changing the industry very rapidly. What was once a fringe idea and a very inefficient model has become the new challenge and goal of fuel producers. By utilizing organic feedstock, that in some cases is waste product from other manufacturing processes like saw dust or wood chips, the producers of petroleum and petroleum based products will slowly change the landscape of transportation fuels. Cellulosic biofuels are the future of the petroleum industry.

From clean energy to green technology, Alexander Sutton is involved with a number of green endeavors and wishes to spread awareness about environmentally friendly issues. For more information, please visit Cellulosic Biofuel.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Sutton

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6128711

Algae Based Biofuel Production: The New Wave Of Green Energy

2011-08-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

The "green" trend has been around since the 1970s, when an OPEC boycott, gas rationing, and spiking prices called into question our reliance on oil. The creation of suburbs and expansion of cities led to increased numbers of large, gas-guzzling cars on the road, and air pollution was growing more prevalent, begging the question, "How can we find inexpensive, clean, renewable energy?"

Enter the Biofuel Revolution. Biofuel is any fuel produced from biomass, or organic material. The challenge is to produce biofuel from biomass that can be renewed, so that it won't tap out as a fuel source the way oil reserves will. With recent gas price hikes and the number of SUVs and inefficient fuel-burning vehicles on the road today, the issue of biofuel production is once again at the forefront. Some recent biofuels, such as ethanol, have met with limited success: Yes, ethanol waste is mostly water and ethanol is cheap. But the amount of land and energy that goes into planting, maintaining, and harvesting corn for ethanol, on top of ethanol production, make it much less environmentally-friendly than previously thought. Plus, there are ethical considerations about growing fields of food crops just for biofuel production.

Energy investors today are putting efforts into a new solution: algae based biofuel production. Algae use sunlight, ocean and wastewater to grow, and produce oil that is then harvested. The amount of oil that can be produced for biofuel from 15,000 square miles of algae farms is estimated by the US Department of Energy to be enough to replace all petroleum-based fuel in the country. That statistic is astounding: algae based biofuel production would use less than one-seventh of the land dedicated in the US to corn production, and would produce up to 100 times more energy per square mile. Algae are also biodegradable, and unlike petroleum, are relatively harmless if spilled. Best of all, algae don't require high-quality soil, so farms producing algae could use land unsuitable for food crops.

With the discovery of clean algae based biofuel production, what is holding back the market? The answer is the same as with many biofuels of the past: High prices. Capital investments to set up a farm are costly. In time, these investments will be recouped and prices will drop, however. And with oil prices rising steadily, green biofuel may be competitively priced sooner than we thought. Good news for green energy.

From clean energy to green technology, Alexander Sutton is involved with a number of green endeavors and wishes to spread awareness about environmentally friendly issues. For more information, please visit Algae Based Biofuel Production.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Sutton

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6336638

Grassroots Innovation for Generating Efficient Biofuel - Biomass Gasifier

2011-07-02T03:15:00.001-07:00

The whole world is busy in doing research for generating and using biofuels. Scientists have already developed biofuels in all the three forms of matter. Unaware of all these developments, an uneducated common man Raj Singh Dahiya from Rajasthan, India, has made his own biomass gasifier which generates the clean fuel producer gas from wood and agricultural wastes.

Features, process and advantages of the biomass gasifier

The whole setup of the innovative machine consists of a gasifier, an aspirator, a mixer and a modified engine. Biomass is first fed into the gasifier unit which heats up to 200 degree centigrade to convert the solid biomass into producer gas. The producer gas at this point has ash, tar and other residues and so, needs a lot of filtration which is done by a series of filters arranged sequentially in two stages. In these two stages, baffles and sieves arranged in order of progressively fine perforations filter the gas. The aspirator sucks the filtered producer gas and passes it through a water cooling cyclone followed by another cyclone which removes the carbon and ash contents. The water jacket surrounding the filtration unit and the water-cooled cyclone do the job of cooling the hot producer gas. Now, the clean producer gas is fed into the mixer unit where it is mixed with air in a correct fuel-air ratio. This mixture gas is then used to run the modified engine.

* The biomass gasifier can run an engine of 30 HP for an hour from 20 kilograms of biomass wastes.
* This system's running cost is half of what an electric run machine costs in generating the same output.
* The biomass gasifier can be used to run machines like water lifting pump sets, saw mills and flour mills.
* It can also be used to generate electricity by charging an alternator.
* The unique design of Raj Singh's biomass Gasifier enables it to consume 30 to 40 percent less biofuel than other available designs.
* The machine has been priced at Rs. 125,000 for its 10 KW units version.

Support and recognition for the grassroots innovation

The innovation was first recognized at district level and later, by National Innovation Foundation, a non-profit autonomous body under Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. NIF has awarded the innovation in its biennial national competition of unaided green grassroots innovations and traditional knowledge and has also filed a patent application for it. With the help and support of NIF, Raj Singh has also achieved some initial success in commercializing his biomass gasifier and has already sold more than 50 units of it.

Ashish Kumar D is a student at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He writes articles on grassroots innovation and other related topics. To know about Raj Singh's biomass gasifier in detail, please visit http://www.nif.org.in/bd/biogas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashish_Kumar_D

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6213028

Malunggay's Moringa Oil Seen as Biofuel Source

2011-06-28T03:13:00.000-07:00

As the Philippines seeks better ways to use its resources in combating climate change, a new discovery by a Filipino biotechnology company based in the U.S. has tapped a wonder plant in the country as a source of biofuel.

Malunggay, scientifically known as Moringa oleifera Lamk, which is widely grown in the Philippines and is considered one the world's most useful plants, is found as a good source of Moringa oil. This oil is believed to be a biofuel source.

SECURA International announced that malunggay oil is being tapped by the North American Biofuels Inc. (NABI) since January as possible raw material for biodiesel production. As a result, the former is currently growing malunggay in 500,000-hectare farmland to meet the demands of NABI.

Since malunggay can easily be grown in the country, SECURA International president Danny Manayaga encouraged the Filipino farmers to take advantage of the situation in meeting the demands of the world for the Moringa oil supply to be used as biodiesel.

Manayaga said this business is sustainable since the market is very accessible. Currently, there are 165 marketing companies in the U.S. for biodiesel using soybean oil as raw material. It is expected that in the next 50 years, Japan and Korea will be the biggest markets of Moringa oil for their automobiles that will use biodiesel.

Others might be thinking of the real viability of Moringa oil as biodiesel. But the NABI has already authenticated that it has passed the biofuels standards. This means doubts of whether this can truly be used are over.

Earlier, the Philippine government is endorsing jatropha as a source of biofuel. However, Manayaga said Moringa oil is more useful that jatropha. What makes malunggay better than the jatropha is that malunggay is 100 percent usable; all parts are biodegradable. Unlike jatropha, it has a toxic part. Once its oil is extracted, the left-over part becomes a nuclear waste according to the findings.

With malunggay as a biofuel source in the Philippines, the country may in some way help other countries reduce the impact of global warming by sharing the benefits of Moringa oil.

Maynard Joseph Delfin finished AB Journalism (cum laude) at the University of Santo Tomas. He has worked as book editor, deskman, copy editor and research and publications officer in leading publishing and research companies in the Philippines.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maynard_Joseph_Delfin

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1103764

Adaro Develop Fuel "Jatropha"

2011-05-31T09:08:00.000-07:00

PT Adaro Energy Tbk develop the use of biodiesel fuel derived from Jatropha for moving conveyances their coal products in South Kalimantan.
The project which started in early 2010 was beginning to show results even though the project has just reached a year old. "This is already showing results, but still in the pilot project level and it can not be regarded as a valuable commercial projects," said Manager of Corporate Reporting Adaro, Perry B Slangor in Jakarta on Monday (5/30/2011).

The development of this project conducted in cooperation with Komatsu Ltd. Adaro and PT United Tractors Tbk. The project started on March 31, 2010.
Bio Diesel from Jatropha curcas will be used for a fuel dump trucks (class mining truck manufactured 90-ton Komatsu). If the project is successful, then Adaro hope will gain a new source of renewable fuels, and leave the dependence on fossil fuels.
"We're going to enter the bio-diesel is gradually on the dump truck tank is gradually mixed with fossil fuels. However, over time will further increase the composition of bio-diesel," said Perry.

Bio diesel produced in this project is 1-2 tons per day. "We are planting jatropha curcas adjacent to the mine area. We select suitable jatropha because of the distance in the region that are not fertile as mine," said Perry in a journey towards the town of Tanjung, South Kalimantan, one of the largest mining areas managed by Adaro.

PT Adaro Energy require mine reclamation land or unproductive land to plant jatropha trees. These plants are needed as raw materials for manufacture of vegetable oil fuel, which is used to drive the vehicle at a coal mine operations that they manage in the Cape region, Tabalong regency, South Kalimantan.

Director of Marketing and Support, Komatsu Limited (manufacturer of heavy equipment up hope Japan) in Indonesia, Chikaya Sakai, express it in Tanjung, Tabalong, Tuesday (05/31/2011). He explained about the development projects jatropha curcas Fuel Development in the area coal mines managed by PT Adaro Indonesia, a subsidiary of PT Adaro Energy.
According to Sakai, until recently, the area planted new range of existing 50 hectares. Though the land needs to reach 4,000 acres. "The thing is, we can only develop their own land for planting distance on a land mine reclamation area of 400 per year. So much land needs," he said.
Planting 4,000 hectares of land was needed to achieve the target production of castor oil fuel as much as 8,000 tons per year in 2012.

Algae keeps nosing around clean energy news

2011-05-24T17:55:00.001-07:00

It doesn't have the sunny cache of solar or the exotic qualities of wind, tidal and geothermal power. But the rapidity of algae fuel's reported advances are hard to ignore. At least for this former reporter.

In my backyard at the University of California, Merced, researchers received a grant to "perform a comprehensive life cycle analysis study of algae biofuels." The money, a modest $142,747, is part of about $3.5 million issued by the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research program.

Algae takes a back seat in the grant to other projects that include improving grid reliability, energy efficiency and automobile fuel economy. But, hey, it's algae. Pond scum. This is the stuff that may be grown in wastewater settling ponds, harvested and turned into diesel fuel. Or food additives, you never know.

But the important thing is algae wasn't left out. It's not cold fusion. This stuff shows true promise as an alternative energy source.

CEC Commissioner Jeffrey Byron put it this way in a statement from the agency: "California's strength comes from the ability to invest in energy research across the board."

No kidding. And this pond scum just may keep oil prices from breaking the bank. Cambridge, Mass.-based Joule Unlimited announced that it has created a "cynobacterium" that secrete a product identical to ethanol or diesel fuel, according to Joule biologist Dan Robertson, quoted in dailytech.com.

This breakthrough, the company says, could enable the production of 15,000 gallons of diesel per acre annually. The company says it can do it for $30 a barrel.

That has yet to be proved commercially, of course. But developments are coming hot and heavy across the globe. Biodigest.com rattled off a handful of promising developments in Australia, topping off the list with serious production efforts by Aurora Algae and Algae.Tec.

And Oilgae.com/blog/, an aggregator of stories, lists multiple posts daily. One that caught my eye highlighted a peer review of the draft report "Biofuels and the Environment: First Triennial Report to Congress," scheduled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The report will give Congress a taste of what's coming.

Expect pond scum to do more than lurk in a puddle on the floor with lobbyists during discussion.

I do like to include practical applications in these rants. Nothing epitomizes that more than the biofuel-powered Bentley Continental Supersports convertible, reportedly capable of more than 200 mph. The vehicle debuted this week at the Geneva Auto Show in Switzerland. Ami Cholia of inhabitat.com writes: "an on-board fuel supply system monitors the content of the fuel tank to make sure that power and torque remain constant regardless of the ratio of petrol to biofuel."

Pretty cool. So it can handle anything you throw at it and still go fast. We put fuel oil in a bug once and it ran. Barely. We had to clean the plugs, but it got us out of a jam.

The Bentley, I assume, would be better.

Biofuels still must prove themselves. Ethanol, even as an additive, has gotten mixed reviews. For instance, the lawnmower mechanic in Old Town Clovis told me if I kept using that "cheap garbage gas" I'd continue to have problems with my mower's carburetor. Her gripe? Ethanol. It gets gummy and nasty if allowed to sit too long. (Hint: use stabilizer.)

UC Merced plans to analyze emerging algae biofuels technology and provide feedback on the rather interesting concept of extracting fuel that doesn't require much land, water or tending. And pond scum grows rapidly in any kind of water. The leftover material, after oil extraction, could be used for fertilizer.

"We will consider the efficient use of residual algae biomass as an energy rich waste stream and new harvesting techniques that could improve the sustainability of the overall process," wrote J. Elliott Campbell and Gerardo Diaz of UC Merced and Joseph M. Norbeck of University of California, Riverside.

As I read over their proposal, I determined that the process of extracting and refining sounds far above my paygrade.

But as I was scanning through one of the many algae related websites, I found this do-it-yourself book: "Making Algae Biodiesel at Home" (Making-Biodiesel-Books.com, $99.99). It says it can, among other things, show the home brewer how to build an 80-gallon algae photobioreactor "for less than $215."

Somehow it doesn't sound as promising as my once prolific beer-brewing efforts in Anchorage before I was married. But who knows? The practice may catch on.

All you need is a biofuel Bentley.

Mike Nemeth, project manager of the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization, spent 24 years working as a newspaperman editing and reporting from Alaska to California. The SJVCEO is a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life through increased use of clean and alternative energy. The SJVCEO is based in Fresno, Calif. and works with cities and counties and public and private organizations to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the eight-county region of the San Joaquin Valley. For more information, go to http://www.sjvcleanenergy.org.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Nemeth

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6037322

How to Make Biodiesel from Jathropha curcas

2011-05-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

Biofuels as an Alternative Replacement Fuel

In general, the term can mean fuel biofuels from vegetable, the most probable development for the substitution or replacement of energy is biodiesel (from Jatropha oil and Palm Oil) as an alternative to diesel and bio ethanol (from cassava) as a substitute for gasoline.

How to Make Biodiesel from Jatropha Fruit (Jathropa curcas)

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L), which is a bush plant family Euphorbiaceae. Within five months of this drought-resistant plants begin to bear fruit, full productive at the age of five years, and the productive age of 50 years. Many encountered in Indonesia as a hedge plant.

The fruit can not be consumed because it can cause poisoning. People in rural areas often make use of this plant to treat constipation in children under five years old (toddlers) or eliminate dental pain with distance tree sap dripping into a hollow tooth.

From the results of research conducted Dr.Ir.Robert Manurung MEng, a lecturer in the Department of Industrial Chemistry Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), together with his team (Nagayama and Masanori Kobayashi Eiichi from New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO-Japan):

"Jatropha oil can replace petroleum diesel to power generators. Because jatropha can be grown in almost all regions in Indonesia, the castor oil really help generate electricity in remote areas, this oil can be produced by the communities that need electricity, "

According Manurung, castor oil-making process is not too complicated and could dilakukanoleh anyone with sophisticated tools, follow these steps:

* Steam the pieces for an hour distance.
* Then, meat was destroyed by machine blender.
* After that, the fruit flesh and seeds that have been destroyed inserted into the forging machine oil.
* With emphasis on the hydraulic jack, the pulp is squeezed to produce oil.

Every 10 pounds of crushed castor seeds will produce 3.5 liter of castor oil as an alternative to diesel. This oil is intangible, such as cooking oil, which is thick, smooth, and the smell was not noticeable.

Biomass, Biofuels and Biogas

2011-04-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

In recent years there has been a lot of interest in renewable and alternative energy sources. This has seemingly become an even bigger issue in the wake of the Japanese nuclear crisis, where the nuclear plant at Fukushima was damaged by the earthquake and resultant tsunami on March 11th. There is now a real danger that harmful radiation could escape from the site. People have always been uncertain of the safety of utilising nuclear power and such a scare only serves to heighten their concerns. That is why increasingly people are looking for alternatives. One such alternative is the use of biofuels.

What are Biofuels?

The term 'biofuel' refers to a broad range of fuels that are created from 'biomass' (see below). Biofuels are often used as an additive rather than as a 'pure' fuel. Bioethanol is an example of this. It is an alcohol created by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials and whilst ethanol can be used as a fuel for cars in its purest form, it is normally added to petrol to improve the emissions from the vehicle and increase octane.

Ok, so what is Biomass?

Biomass is a renewable energy source. It refers specifically to biomaterials from living organisms and recently living organisms - examples of which are wood, waste and alcohol fuels. There are actually several different sources of biomass energy, so in addition to the three just mentioned, there are: garbage and landfill gases. There are a few different mechanisms by which biomass can be converted to energy:

Thermal Conversion

This involves the use of heat in order to convert biomass into an alternative chemical form. There are different forms of thermal conversion - two examples of which are torrefaction and pyrolysis.

Chemical Conversion

This is quite simply where a range of chemical processes are used in order to convert biomass to alternative forms.

Biochemical Conversion

This involves harnessing the power of naturally occurring biochemical conversion processes. Microorganisms are used to break down biomass - Anaerobic Digestion is an example of this.

Biogas

Biogas is a type of biofuel that is produced by anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials, including biomass. Biodegradable waste can, for example, be converted to methane - which is a renewable energy source.

So are Biofuels the answer?

It remains to be seen whether or not biofuels are a long term solution to the problems surrounding the energy industry. There are certainly discussions to be had about the impact that the production of biofuels has on carbon emissions and biodiversity, but these are certainly not the only issues.

Projen Project Management Consultants are experts in Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas: http://www.projen.co.uk/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Iranha

Biofuel Technology - The Cost of Alternative Energy

2011-04-09T03:28:00.000-07:00

Certainly consumers are concerned with escalating fuel prices as well as what fossil fuels are doing to the environment. The concern has led many consumers to find out more about alternative energy sources in the way of solar power, wind power and biofuel technology. However, are these technologies new? Certainly not - although now that energy is such a concern the technologies relative to biofuels, wind and solar can no longer be put on the back shelf. That said, this technology is a very old alternative energy solution. The costs of biofuel technology have to be looked at before solutions can be found.

The creation of a biofuel is not some sort of complex science. In order to create a biofuel the following needs to occur. First you will need to take some form of grain or vegetable and thoroughly grind it up. The grain or vegetable is then mixed with water. The grain or vegetable and water is then cooked for a very short length of time. During this short period of cooking time an enzyme is added to the mixture in order that the starch may be subsequently convert to sugar. The cooking process just described is referred to as Hydrolysis.

You next add some yeast. The yeast is necessary in order that the mixture can ferment. The fermentation of the mixture results in the production of Ethanol. A distillation process is applied in order to separate the Ethanol from the other ingredients. You may not be aware of it, but currently with the concern regarding diminishing fossil fuels and the threat they present to the environment there are a fair amount of websites showing various ways to manufacture the product of Ethanol at home. Even though the steps do not sound all that significant there is truly a great deal of time involved and a good deal of work. Further, some have mentioned it is not all that cost-effective to produce Ethanol at home.

However, on a larger scale a good deal of time and financial resources is being spent currently with respect to manufacturing methods pertinent to biofuels. In example, researchers are looking for ways to produce Ethanol by means that prove less expensive than what is incurred when using grains. This assures food sources are not used too frequently. It is not necessary for part of the population go hungry due to the fact food sources are being used over-extensively in the way of biofuel manufacture. Countries that have been manufacturing biofuels for a relatively long time now grow food products high in sugar content; one example of such a food product is sugar cane. Brazil is one country that grows a considerable amount of sugar cane. Brazil has also been producing biofuels for quite a while now.

It may be said, the majority of Ethanol used commercially is the result of manufacture using the by-product yeast. Ethanol is manufactured as well wherein gasoline is used within the production process. However, the majority of Ethanol produced is the result of using yeast. In manufacturing biofuels corn is considered in areas such as North America where its harvest is generous. However, though corn is generally used in the production of biofuels the process is pricey and the conversion into biofuel a good deal more detailed.

Greg has been writing articles for over 5 years. Please visit his latest website about renewable energy ideas at Alternative Energy Sources, with great information and thoughts surrounding Costs of Biofuel Technology.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Parsons

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6041309

Another Green Energy Source: Biofuels

2011-03-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

A great alternative Green Energy source is Liquid Bio-fuel. Lately, people are starting to take notice of Bio-fuels as an alternative Green Energy Source which has been around for a long time. A natural and renewable domestic fuel that is used for diesel engines in cars is Liquid bio-fuel and is made from mostly corn and soy oils.

The fact that it contains no petroleum, is nontoxic and is biodegradable is one of the great things about Bio-fuel. With no emissions, you help eliminate pollutants in the air each and every time you fill up with Bio-fuel. Bio-fuel meets the requirements of the California Air Resources Board, has passed every Health-Effects test of the Clean Air Act, and right now is the only fuel approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Using a chemical process that separates glycerin and methyl esters from fats or vegetable oil, Bio-diesel is made from alcohol like methanol. To create their own version of bio-fuel, some countries have experimented with corn and sugarcane, aside from methanol. A common product in the making of toothpaste and soap is Glycerin. Unfortunately, this process costs much more per gallon as compared to petroleum. Because it is so new, the process of converting it is quite expensive. So, here is an opportunity to do your part to preserve a cleaner environment, improve the air quality and reduce cancer causing agents, which is huge in returns given what you pay for it.

Collecting cooking oil and then processing it is another cheaper and more primitive way to make bio-diesel fuel. If you do decide to use this type of fuel, be careful as it may not be good for your engine. Studies have shown that bio-diesel fuel is just as good as petroleum fuel in terms of power to efficiency, hauling and climbing, if you are skeptical.

Bio-diesel can be used in a blend with petroleum or in its pure form. Often referred to as B20 in the market, the most common mix is 20/80. This makes the mix 80% petroleum and bio-diesel the remaining 20%. Fuel composed of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol is another version and is called E85. You really only have to make a few changes to your engine to begin using bio-diesel, which makes that the best part of converting to bio-diesel. It helps to clean the engine aside from making the car run. I don't think there is a worry about voiding your warranty should there be a problem. But, it's always best to check with the manufacturer. Another unfortunate is that there are only a few gas stations that carry B20 which is the most common bio-diesel. The Ford company had plans at the beginning of the century to make the cars, especially the Model T, run using ethanol. Peanut oil was discovered to also fuel these early cars. But huge oil deposits were found, diesel was cheap so these plans never materialized.

People began to realize in the 1970's, 80's and 90's that we must find other sources for alternative fuel such as bio-diesel, ethanol to reduce our demand for foreign oil.

There is still time to use other Green Energy Sources such as bio-fuels. So it is never too late!

James Corbin is continuing his series of articles on Green Living. His latest interest however is helping his wife with her new web site on cross stitch magazines. Come visit their latest website over at http://www.crossstitchmagazines.net/ which helps people find the best cross stitch magazines and information for that just right project.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Corbin

A New Alternative to Ethanol

2011-02-02T15:01:00.000-08:00

Although ethanol is part of the drive to reduce dependence upon fossil fuels, the fact is that its production has been blamed for the rising price of corn, sugar and other foodstuffs.

Atlantic Energy Research has been at the forefront of the search for alternatives to corn and sugar-based ethanol as investors continue to seek opportunities in biofuels. The firm has been encouraged by the potential of a fuel developed from a source called Jatropha curcas.

Jatropha curcas is a poisonous plant that grows in abundance in Africa, Central and South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. The plant can co-exist alongside other crops including coffee, sugar, fruit and vegetables. Farmers already use the plant to defend their pre-existing crops from animals and insects. Jatropha plant seeds can be pulped to produce oil that can be burned in an unmodified diesel car engine while the remaining residue's uses include fuel for electricity plants and fertilizer.

Jatropha is able grow in areas where the environment is dry and inhospitable or where the soil has experienced erosion.

Since 2007, Jatropha has been considered to be a viable source of biofuel by a number of organizations but only recently have projects aimed at jatropha production been implemented to demonstrate the impact they can have on rural communities. Mali, a poor African nation, has abundant renewable energy resources that can be utilized to make a pertinent and tangible difference to rural Malians needing access to affordable electricity.

Atlantic Energy Research has identified a number of innovative companies that have set up sustainable biodiesel processors in parts of West Africa. Several of these firms have eschewed the traditional and somewhat callous practice of simply buying land cheaply from locals who do not appreciate the value of the resources under their very feet and, instead, have sought to offer the farmers a share in the profits which should benefit the entire community.

In contrast to other sources of biofuel, Jatropha production represents no threat to local food production and offers the most sensible advantages for the local farmer and the environment since it enables farmers to produce food whilst simultaneously reducing soil erosion, increasing soil fertility and boosting food crop yield.

The jatropha-derived biofuel is sold at a keen price, which is roughly 10 percent cheaper than the pump price of ordinary fuel.

Clearly, the jatropha plant has a number of advantages when one considers both the economic benefits for the local Malian communities and the exciting prospects for another sustainable energy alternative for the rest of the world. Atlantic Energy Research believes that communities cultivating jatropha seed in Mali are a good example of how forward-thinking and innovative companies are harnessing technology to tackle carbon emissions issues while, at the same time, making a real difference to poorer communities and, of course, generating healthy profits for shareholders.

For information on this topic and more visit http://www.atlanticenergyresearch.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Sloan

Ethanol From Sugar Cane

2011-01-17T05:19:00.000-08:00

Ethanol is a fuel additive also known as an alternative fuel that is made from plant life such as corn, willow, hemp, switchgrass and sugar cane. Ethanol is added to gasoline as an allegedly more eco friendly fuel and made to be more energy efficient. In order to make ethanol, sugar from the plant life is extracted and fermented, distilled and dehydrated to comprise the finished product.

The two countries that produce approximately eighty nine percent of the ethanol in the world are Brazil and the United States. Brazil has been making ethanol from sugar cane for the last thirty years successfully. Their success is attributed to the fact that they are able to grow enough canes to sustain the production and that they have some of the most advanced technology for the sugar cane ethanol production. Brazil also does not have any vehicles on the road that utilize gasoline only. In 1993 the Brazilian government made it mandatory that the blend of ethanol by volume would be at twenty two percent. Brazilian auto manufacturers produce flexible automobiles that will use any blend of gasoline and ethanol.

Brazil was a major exporter of cane back in the fifteen hundreds. Ethanol from sugar cane was first made in Brazil in the twenties and thirties with the introduction of the automobile. The production of ethanol peaked during the Second World War when oil supplies were threatened. Production fell by the wayside until the seventies when again oil was threatened.

At the present time ninety seven percent of the ethanol produced in the United States is from corn. There are no current plans to produce ethanol from cane or sugar beets in the United States. Brazil is still the major producer of ethanol made from their sugar cane crops which grow in abundance. In the United States there are eleven states currently producing sugar beets and that accounts for a major portion of our sugar production. Sugar cane is only grown in the four states that have weather closest to what would be considered tropical weather.

More on ethanol for cars and ethanol in general visit us at http://ethanol4car.com/ now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Lanback

Opportunity of Jatropha Curcas Waste As Biofuel

2010-12-30T14:12:00.000-08:00

In the last decades, the development of Jatropha curcas plants has been an increasing trend significantly. Several countries in Asia, Africa and South America develop bio diesel from its seeds.

Studies on conversion of this plant into bio diesel has been conducted by many researchers in the world. Jatropha Curcas waste, such as cake seed, sludge, and shell, has been potential to convert into solid fuels. Some researcher converts its material into biogas through an anaerobic digestion system in digester.

As reported many authors, that the cake seeds of Jatropha curcas contain around 61-67% crude oil per unit weight. Meanwhile, the content of raw oil is around 33 to 39 %. This means that there is a high possibility to extract Jatropha Curcas waste into energy both from shell and cake seed.

Combustion is a chemical process to convert solid waste into heat energy. The process includes drying, pyrolysis, and char combustion. In the pyrolysis process, carbon monoxide rises to the peak level and gradually decrease until char combustion reactions stopped.

The products of biomass combustion consist of carbon dioxide, water, ash, sulfur oxide, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon particles, nitrogen oxide, smoke and soot. It is an opportunity to form Jatropha Curcas waste as briquettes and uses for fuel.

This fuel can then be used in rural areas for cooking. If the production this fuel is high, it can be used for commercialization. It means that its briquettes send to the combustion reactor to heat a boiler system and produces electricity.

Nugroho Agung Pambudi has been writing articles including papers for nearly 3 years now. His journal papers can be reached both international journal and conference. Come visit his latest website at methylcobalamin and geothermal heating and cooling

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nugroho_Agung_Pambudi

Biofuels Leaders: Three Big Dawgs in Biofuels

2010-12-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

The biofuels industry has received a lot of attention for the up and coming small companies, many of whom are developing novel technologies to produce bio-based alternatives to gasoline. But now as the industry prepares for the scale-up and commercial introduction of fuels at meaningful scale, it is the large industrial companies that are starting to dominate. These Big Dawgs tend to be well financed. They also have the necessary ingredients to be credible commercializers of biofuels. Typically, these are well-known multi-national companies that have prior experience in either the production and delivery of petroleum-derived fuels or in the development of bio-based processes at very large scale.

Who are these Big Dawgs? Here are the top three on my list.

1. Dupont: Known primarily as a major international chemical company, DuPont has already been successful in the development and commercialization of bio-based processes at large scale. The company launched a new monomer called trimethyleneglycol, or 1,3-propanediol, which is produced by an engineered microorganism by fermentation of sugar. Since this is exactly the type of process that is necessary to produce biofuels, the step into the biofuels arena is a natural one for this industry behemoth.

DuPont has formed a partnership with the major enzyme producer Danisco. Named appropriately DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE), this company aims to be nothing less than the world's leading provider of technology for producing fuel-grade ethanol from cellulose. DDCE plans to license its patented technology to ethanol producers for deployment in the United States and elsewhere.

DuPont also has a joint venture with oil giant British Petroleum to produce butanol. The BP partnership is an interesting one since butanol is an advanced biofuel with better properties as a fuel than ethanol. IN the commercialization announcement, the product has a nice name: Butamax. By covering both the ethanol and advanced biofuel space, DuPont is positioning itself to earn revenues in both the short and intermediate time frames.

2. British Petroleum: Famous now for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP has been preparing its future in biofuels for longer than most people know. In addition to the aforementioned joint venture with DuPont to produce butanol, BP recently bought out its venture with Verenium to enter the cellulosic ethanol market. The company is also funding about half a billion dollars in research over 10 years at the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Funded under the EBI, or Energy Biosciences Institute, the research is geared toward the development of technologies to replace fossil fuels. The company is also investing in technology to produce diesel from sugar and in operations in Brazil near the sugar plantations there.

3. Shell: This oil industry giant owns a majority interest in cellulosic ethanol producer Iogen and is underwriting a large project to develop enzymes for breaking down cellulose to produce biofuels with Codexis. Shell recently signed a major agreement with Brazilian sugar producer Cosan, which gives it access to an inexpensive source of sugar as a raw material. The Brazilian venture alone is worth an estimated $12 billion. In addition, Shell is funding research through a variety of smaller venues, both at universities and small companies. Without a doubt, Shell is signaling that it intends to be a long-term player in biofuels.

These are three Big Dawgs to watch as biofuels go commercial.

And now I would like to invite you to sign up for my FREE 7-day E-Course "How To Live Greener and Save Money" at http://livinggreenandsavingenergy.com/
This 7-day e-mail course will show you how to make your lifestyle greener while saving money at the same time.
Would you like to save up to $1000 per year for life by going green? The Ebook "6 Weeks To A Greener Lifestyle" shows you how. And "How To Take A Green Vacation" gives you all the information you need to travel in a more eco-friendly manner. Get all the details here: http://livinggreenandsavingenergy.com/ebooks

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Stillwater

Prospect Of Jatropha Curcas As An Energy Plant

2010-12-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Jatropha Curcas plant or can be called physic nut has a large potential as a source of renewable energy in the future. This is caused by the depletion of fossil fuel sources. Petroleum is expected to be exhausted in 50 years. Meanwhile, gas and coal have the time to stay longer because its reserves are still abundant.

In addition, the use of fossil fuels increases the amount of emissions in the atmosphere. This emission is greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. These gases will withstand the heat that will flow out of the earth.

This phenomenon will increase the atmospheric temperature in the earth, called global warming. The result of global warming is the imbalance system in the earth. A hot environment will lead to melting of polar ice that will increase the volume of sea water. Increasing this volume will shrink the mainland. Moreover, temperature of sea water will be increased. Therefore, some fish species will be extinct. This extinction of certain fish species will result in the other species that rely on food this fish.

Because of the global warming impact, countries in the world have thought to look for renewable energy sources, which are friendlier to the environment. Physic nut plant was allegedly going to be a popular because its advantages as the energy plant. The advantages of physic nut can be grown in areas that are less fertile than another energy plant. In addition, the physic nut can also live in extreme environments such as sand.

Nugroho Agung Pambudi has been writing articles including papers for nearly 3 years now. His journal papers can be reached both international journal and conference. Come visit his latest website at methylcobalamin which help people find information about methylcobalamin injection

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nugroho_Agung_Pambudi

Why Ethanol is a Great Alternative and Renewable Energy Resource

2010-10-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Ethanol, a biomass fuel that can be used to power cars and even generate electricity, is the very same ethyl alcohol that's used to make alcoholic drinks. It is considered a sustainable energy resource because it can be extracted from agricultural stocks and crops. Brazil is the leading country that uses biofuel or bioethanol to run their cars and it's only second to the US in ethanol production. Using ethanol is gaining popularity in countries around the world as an alternative fuel to gasoline and diesel fuel. It isn't hard to see why.

Crops such as switchgrass, sugar cane, and corn that are mainly used as feed for stock are the crops that hold the most promise for conversion into ethanol. The production of ethanol starts in photosynthesis, which makes feedstocks and crops grow. These plants are then collected, fermented, distilled or dehydrated to remove the water and burned.

The only problem associated with producing ethanol is the amount of land that would be required to grow enough of these crops to fuel the world. But currently, an alternative process of making ethanol from algae without harvesting it is being studied. If this becomes successful, a growing algae can continuously provide ethanol without having to kill the plant. Research is underway. Scientists are finding new and better ways to turn plants into fuel.

The world will eventually run out of fossil fuels. There's no more being made. Fossil fuel is not a renewable energy source. When what we have is gone - well, it's just gone, and there won't be any more. On the other hand, ethanol, which is made from plants, is a renewable energy source. Corn or grass or whatever that's used to make fuel this year will be available again next year, and the year after that, and so on into infinity. Ethanol is made from a renewable source unlike gasoline and diesel.

And we can use ethanol now. Most all of the cars on the roads in America can run on a mixture of 90% gasoline and 10% anhydrous ethanol (contains less than 1% water) just fine. That would mean a 10% DECREASE in gasoline consumption. Researchers are also arguing that using ethanol to replace petroleum in generating electricity might be more efficient that using it as a liquid fuel.

If you're interested to know more about how energy power is generated and how you can conserve it--even create it--using sustainable and green alternative energy sources, check out the free energy saving tips on this site http://bestenergysave.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Person

Algae Biofuel - A Promising Biofuel For The Future

2010-08-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

Algae biofuel is currently emerging as one of the potentially promising biofuels in recent stages of development.

Petroleum is believed to have developed from kerogen, which is simply converted to an oily substance under the influences of temperature and pressure. Kerogen is formed from biodegradable compounds, bacteria, plankton, and plant material through chemical and biochemical reactions: algae. Because of this, it is widely believed that algae can be converted to a petroleum-like substance. This would be a developed algae biofuel.

The advantages of an algae biofuel should be evident to almost everyone. Biofuels that can replace fossil fuels could end our dependency on the depletion of our planet's natural resources and significantly reduce our carbon footprint on the planet. With the development of alternatives like algae biofuel, air pollution resultant from burning fossil fuels and energy crises resultant from the exhaustion of natural resources would no longer present such an imminent theat to our people and the world we live in.

Harvesting algae to manufacture algae biofuel can be fairly intricate. Gathering algae involves the process of separating it from its growing medium. The algae must then be dried and processed into the desired product. Since there are different kinds of algae, strains particular to developing algae biofuel must be designated and developed for harvesting. The drying of algae is centrally important to the harvesting process, as it retains high water content. Some processes currently under use for harvesting algae are centrifugation, flocculation, froth floatation, and micro screening.

Oil extraction from algae is a debated concept because it is currently quite costly. While in theory it is all quite simple - harvest the algae and remove the oil from it - the reality is that the processes are expensive. The two basic methods of extracting oil for algae biofuel are the mechanical method and the chemical method.

The environmental effects of extracting oil from algae are, themselves, a topic of hot debate since many see them as not being eco-friendly. The concerns with mechanical extraction are that the drying process is extremely energy intensive and supercritical extraction depends on high-pressure mechanics that are also energy intensive. The chemical process involves solvents that present health and environmental risk factors. Other methods are being developed to reduce the environmental concerns, but so far they are so costly as to make mass production almost impractical.

So, while algae biofuel is one of the most potentially promising of the biofuel alternatives currently being researched, it is far from reaching a stage where its process and progress is anywhere near on the horizon. At this point in time there are many issues to be straightened out, from environmental effects to cost challenges.

However, far from leaving us disappointed, this situation only underscores the vital need to devote our resources and expertise to the challenges of developing biofuels and other alternatives to our current fossil fuel dependency. While the advance in creating biofuels may now be riddled with challenge, we must turn our attention and resources to overcoming these challenges and creating biofuel alternatives for future generations. Setbacks only mean that we must work that much harder in order to make green energy sources like algae biofuel a reality in our lifetime.

Martin Aranovitch is an online publisher with a strong interest in green living. To learn more about ways to go green, save money and help the planet, go here: Green Living Tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Aranovitch

Harnessing the Power of the Ocean With Atlantic Energy Research

2010-07-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Atlantic Energy Research says the ocean waves that are the inspiration for surfers and a wide variety of water sports can also be used to generate electricity. There are a number of plants currently in operation, but how exactly is electricity generated from the tidal forces of the oceans?

One method is to capture the tides of the ocean and utilize them to produce mechanical motion; another is to capture the forces of the high or low tides.

Energy produced using waves: The kinetic energy produced using waves is tapped by putting in place suitable apparatus so as to harness that energy. A mechanism filled with air allows the high rising tidal wave in, which in turn pushes the air outside. The rushing outflow of air sets a turbine into rotary motion which can be used to generate electricity.

Tidal energy: Tides rising about on the surface of the oceans, which are caused by the gravitational forces of the sun and the moon, can also be tapped just as the way they are in a hydro electric plant. The rising tide is captured behind a dam like structure and is let out when there is a low tide, similar in operation to a hydroelectric plant.

Although extracting energy from the oceans is a relatively simple process, the practicality is limited to, obviously, where the oceans are located and concerns have been raised by environmental groups about the effect on the habitats of various marine and plant life. Atlantic Energy Research says, also the cost of constructing and putting into operation such plants can be high.

In light of the fact that oceans cover almost 70 % of the earth's surface, they could be thought of as a planetary solar cell. With energy-generating potential of that magnitude, it is only a matter of finding the right way to harness and deliver this energy for our everyday residential or commercial use.

While it is uncertain if it could be used for mainstream industrial purposes, Atlantic Energy Research believes there is little doubt that energy generated in this manner can and, one day, will prove to be a useful supplement to the more established and traditional methods of generating reliable and useful power to our homes and businesses.

For information on this topic and more visit http://www.atlanticenergyresearch.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Sloan

A New Alternative to Ethanol

2010-06-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Jatropha - A New Miracle Plant?

2010-05-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

Jatropha is a group of plants belonging to the wood spurges. The name, derived from the Greek words for doctor (iatros) and nutrition (trophe) already hints at those plants' many uses. Native to Central America, it has been used for medicines.

Plants of the Jatropha family are evergreen or deciduous and have thick roots. Twigs and leaves are usually pubescent, but the hairs don't burn. The fruits are capsules with three chambers. Almost all of the Jatropha plants are toxic, some of them highly so: The seeds can be fatal to humans, although when roasted, they loose some of their toxins.

So what is special about the Jatropha plants, so special that it is called the Miracle Plant by some?

This refers to the seeds of the "Jatropha curcas" plant, also called physic nut or purging nut. The plant is modest in its requirements and can survive even in barren savannahs. There is over 30% of oil in the seeds, which is extremely high for such an undemanding plant. The cetane number of the oil is 60, and here is the key: Canola, the world's currently most used source of biodiesel fuels, has only a cetane number of 54, Jatropha seeds promise to be even more promising for technical uses.

It can be intercropped with other commercial crops (such as coffee or sugar), and thus promises to be an interesting source of income for some of the poorer countries. Already plantations and biodiesel plants are located in India, Indonesia, China and Brazil; several African countries are getting started. Test flights have been a success. In 2009, the Time Magazine called it The Next Biofuel, estimating a potential for 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel per acre per year. This is like a wake up call for a world desperately looking for renewable resources.

Klaus-Martin Meyer is the founder of the leading German speaking website about renewable resources and owner of http://www.jatropha.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Klaus-Martin_Meyer

Biofuels - Good Renewable Source of Energy

2010-04-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

For the last few decades, researchers have been doing their lot of experiments and researches in finding the convenient ways to get the alternative sources of energy to compensate the shortage of the fossil fuel. Perhaps biofuels will be the major source of the energy and power to energize the commercial sectors and revitalize the society as well. To be frank, the area of biofuels has extended up to organic components which include sugar cane, vegetable and corn based oil and ethanol.

Biofuels will provide the adequate energy for doing the daily works and other activities. The government has taken the strong measures for setting up the factories and power stations to enhance the speedy production of the biofuel based energy and power. However, so far as the biolfuels are concerned, ethanol is very important source of biofuel energy but all the ethanol related products are not conducive to the production of the renewable power and electricity.

Therefore, you must be selective in terms of the choice of the specific range of the biofuel energy. You will be glad to hear that by 2025, ethanol will generate at least 10% of the total user friendly gasoline products all over the world and 30 percent more by the end of 2050. However, if you see the index, you will see that only 2% of the ethanol based fuel is now produced in the world.

However, the researchers at the Oregon State University have claimed that they will have to upgrade this biofuel based power with the latest technology so that people can be benefited by getting the gasoline products at cheaper rates. They will have to do vast research for making this biofuel more energy efficient. If you have studied more, you will find that ethanol deriving from corn field is around 20% energy efficient with 75% energy efficiency of the gasoline coming from petroleum products.

The study has further confirmed that biodiesel fuels were measured to be 69 percent energy efficient. However, cellulose based ethanol will over-excel other biofuels with the 85 percent energy efficiency capacity. Truly speaking, the recent attrition level of the availability of oil and petroleum resources will force people to opt for the biofuel. The price hike is also a prominent reason for the modern trends towards the biofuels. Therefore, the future of this alternative source of energy market is very bright.

By 2030, car, vehicles and other means of transportation will be run by biofuels. You must admit that it will boom in near future. Experts have expressed their opinions by emphatically claiming that if the government decides to invest much on biofuel industry, the demand for the other sources of energy like gasoline and lubricant petroleum products will face the steady decline. Brazil is the country which feels proud of producing the largest volume of sugarcane based ethanol products in the international market.

Rudy's passion is to write on variety of subjects. Please visit her latest website at Bunn coffee filters which contains the reviews and deals on Bunn coffee pot and other information about coffee filters and coffee pots.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rudy_Chong

What is Cellulosic Biofuel?

2010-04-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

Lately researchers are looking for every possible alternative energy source, this due largely to the world's energy crisis and the condition of the environment. The top of the list is replacing traditional fossil fuels with alternative and renewable energy.

The main contenders for fuel substitutes are biomass fuels. Biomass fuels are derived from organic plant matter. Ethanol-based bio fuels are extracted from corn. Biodiesel is made up primarily of used vegetable oil and grease. Jatropha oil, which comes from seeds from the Jatropha plant, is also being used to make biofuels. Now added to the list is cellulosic biofuel.

Cellulosic biofuel is very revolutionary in biofuels; this is because it is not plant specific as with Jatropha and and can be generated from both living and dead organic plant matter rather than requiring crops to be grown specifically for the purpose of cellulosic biofuel production, such as ethanol needs corn.

The carbon content in cellulose is what makes it such a good candidate in the quest for biofuel. Cellulose is the most abundant carbon form present in biomass and accounts for around 50% of its weight. Cellulose can be found in most plant matter without the need for land space or water for irrigation giving cellulose biofuel its appeal.

Cellulose is a polysaccharide comprised of a six sugar carbon polymer. Because of its composition and its abundance, cellulosic biofuel is an attractive possibility for mass biofuel production.

The researchers at NASA are further exploring cellulosic biofuel as a viable fuel source. They are researching more efficient processes to convert cellulose to sugar. Once cellulose is converted to its sugar-based form it can be used for other purposes such as chemical agents, food and cellulosic biofuel.

However, the conversion to sugar is requires around 50 hours for the process to take place. You take labor costs and the energy to covert it, and you can see how costly it can become. With time also comes higher production costs. If it would be pssible to cut this process down to 5 hours it would see cellulosic biofuel become cost effective enough to be competitive in a global market.

What scientists hope to accomplish is to refine the process for easier extraction of the complex sugars from cellulose. Because the plant cell walls were designed in nature to be robust and to stand up to the elements, it makes it difficult to break down and extract. Researchers hope to make extraction easier by engineering plant cell walls.

Another hurdle in the production of cellulosic biofuel involves the improvement in enzyme efficiency. They plan to mimic enzyme behavior from animals that are the most efficient at breaking down cell walls such as herbivores like cows and sheep which they believe is the key to cost effective cellulosic biofuel production.

Some of the things we can do to help protect ourselves from increasing oil prices is to conserve what we have now, to use less, and to alter our energy consuming patterns. We need to look into alternative energy sources when they become available to us. If we do these things, cellulosic biofuel could be on the market in as little as 5 years.

Want to get more information on biofuels and renewable energies?
http://www.renewable-energyadvantages.com

Paul Hundrieser
http://www.paulhundrieser.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hundrieser

Grassoline - A New Biofuel Niche

2010-04-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

During the warm seasons, people around the world cut the grass in their yard and rarely think anything else of it. The shards pile up in clumps around the yard or near the curb and some days the wind even blows them into the neighbor's yard. What many do not realize is that these shards of grass laying around the yard could actually be used as fuel for your car and other engine types. The actual name for this biofuel is called grassoline and it has caught the interest of environmentalists all over the world.

One benefit of grassoline would of course be that the yard would look a lot better without the grass clippings scattered all over the place. A person would not have to go through bagging them up for the local town to pick them up, or stare at them until the wind whips them away. But grassoline was not invented just for the purpose of making yards look a little nicer. The concept was created because there is already a similar vegetation out there that is currently being made into biofuel and that's ethanol from corn. Ethanol is currently being used and tested to fuel vehicles and other engines. It is environmentally safer than gasoline and diesel, which are currently being used in the U.S. to power most vehicles.

Unfortunately, a person won't be able to empty their lawnmower bag quite yet and fill up their gas tanks with the broken down grass. Using grass as a biofuel is one of several products being tested right now. Algae is another one being tested and it looks like it is going to be a long way off before the industry decides on the right biofuel and sticks with it.

Using grass, corn and other natural vegetation in order to power engines is something that is being done to lower the amount of greenhouse gases being leaked into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases help deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. With all of the concern regarding the environment and the ozone layer, biofuel is a market trend that is going to continue to be studied.

For more information on grassoline and other biofuels, see http://www.theinternettimemachine.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Sweeney

Homemade Energy - Is Bio Fuel Bad?

2010-03-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

Anybody who has followed the discussions about alternative energy sources with any regularity knows about the controversy that arose over the issue regarding biofuels. Biofuels are inefficient, drive up food prices and cost more both at the pump and through increased taxation for government subsidies of rural farmers such as John Deere and Caterpillar Corporations. (Together, the amount of money they receive in government agricultural subsidies alone would make most rural farmers green with envy and red with anger)

So does that mean that biofuel is really as bad as some people are saying? Well the fact is that corn is one of the largest government subsidized crops in the nation and as such, the government has more freedom to regulate it than they do any other crop and they can then pass on the money to political action committees and other special interest groups. However, when you take the politics out of power, you come up with something resembling pond scum. (No, we are not saying that politicians resemble pond scum, the pond scum is actually useful)

A company by the name of Algenol has found a way to tap into pond scum that is used to create some amazingly effective biofuels. Unlike corn, not many people are standing in line waiting to buy some of that sweet green algae so food prices remain unaffected with this method of producing biofuels. Additionally, the algae is easily farmed and grows at a fairly rapid rate, is fully renewable and (insert audible gasp here) actually makes an efficient and viable biofuel alternative.

The Algenol has lots of different benefits. Here is some of them.

1. Doesn't need to use live feedstock.
2. Doesn't need to collect the materials.
3. Doesn't require environment damaging fertilizers.
4. Uses the water of the sea meaning that we don't need to waste our drinking water.
5. Uses only a small amount of fossil fuels for the process.
6. No need to plow the land.
7. Desertic land and Sea side land can be used for the production.
8. Algenol has energy balance over 5.5:1 making it powerful than fossil fuels.

So what does all of that mean?

That means that all of the tests to date have shown this to be a viable method for creating biofuels that are clean, efficient and have no adverse affect on people who are having a hard enough time finding decent corn on the store shelves. In other words, no matter what your personal or political stance may be, there is absolutely no reason to protest this algae based bio fuel. All of the arguments both for and against bio fuels and alternative fuels in the past have been squashed by pond scum.

While it may be true that many bio fuels are not all that they are cracked up to be, that does not mean that some of them are not very likely to at least supplement, if not to replace the more traditional fossil fuels. One thing is for certain; when people can produce energy cheaper, more efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner as well as getting it to the end consumer at a more reasonable rate, this will start getting people's attention. As long as we can keep the people out of the pond scum, we should be okay!

David Y Gonzalez is an expert in Diy Solar Panels and has been working with Green Diy Energy for more than 2 years. He has helped lots of people to save energy with homemade energy and people have been able to save money and the environment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Y_Gonzalez

Biofuel Can Help the Planet Now and in the Future

2010-02-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

In recent years, we have been encouraged to take on more collective responsibility when it comes to the environment. Mankind has damaged the planet in so many ways over the centuries that it's become vitally important that we look to repair the damage we've already done.

It's become common practice to recycle as much of our household and industrial waste as possible, and every month more and more people are joining this quiet, and much-needed, revolution. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and wave, are serious alternatives to fossil fuels these days, too.

The rise in the use of biofuel is perhaps not as well-known, but thanks to some intensive research and development, it is set to play a major part in the fight against environmental damage. It's likely to be a significant source of energy in the coming years, and will become something we're all aware of in the very near future.

Basically, biofuels are obtained from renewable resources, which can include plant and animal by-products. They've become more popular - and necessary, for that matter - because of the rise in oil prices and the need to find an alternative to petrol and diesel. They fall into two main categories.

The first, bioethanol, is developed mainly from sugar and starch crops. It's an alcohol, and can be used to propel vehicles. However, it's currently utilised primarily as an additive to gasoline. It helps to lower dangerous emissions, and is set to become more widely used in the more developed countries.

Biodiesel is perhaps more familiar, and will be even more so in the coming years. It's manufactured from animal fats, recycled grease and vegetable oils. Although, like bioethanol, it can be used to power vehicles, at the moment it's added to diesel in order to make it kinder to the environment.

Both biofuels have been developed as a result of major investment, and will become a credible alternative to the more damaging fuel sources we currently use. They will one day play a major role in industry and in the home, as well as on the country's roads.

More and more countries are recognising the need for implementing the use of biofuels, and many have targets to aim for which, it is hoped, will lead to major reductions in the use of fossil fuels over the coming years.

In the European Union, for example, each member state is expecting that biofuel usage will be at least 5.75% of all traffic fuel used by the year 2010. In 2020, that figure is expected to increase to 10%.

The USA offers tax exemptions for companies that develop biofuel technology, and the country has seen a significant change in attitudes over the last decade. American ethanol fuels are obtained from corn, a major crop that has been harvested for many years.

In recent times, a significant number of governments have developed major environmental programmes, reflecting a growing awareness of the need to protect our planet. Developing usable biofuels is just one of the many initiatives that are helping to make our world a greener one.

More and more governments are making major investments in biofuel technology, which in the next few years will become an increasingly important energy source.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Yates

Questions About Biofuels’ Environmental Costs Could Alter Europe’s Policies

2010-02-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

BRUSSELS — A top European farm official has suggested that yet-to-be-released studies by the European Commission could be used to “kill” heavily promoted and subsidized biofuels by focusing on their total environmental impact.

The biofuel company Choren Industries, based in Freiberg, Germany, makes clean fuel for vehicles and power generation. The suggestion, written in the margins of internal correspondence seen by The International Herald Tribune, could foreshadow a further retreat from the biofuel-friendly policies that the commission once called crucial in the fight against climate change.

The industry has already been dogged by contentions that the main justification for policies supporting biofuels — that they are greener than fossil-based products — is unsound. Many environmental advocates claim that a large number of fuels grown from crops do not merit public subsidies or production incentives.

European governments agreed in December 2008 that only biofuels that reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent compared with fossil fuels should qualify for meeting the trade bloc’s current goal.

But at the time, the governments directed the commission to investigate indirect land use change and, depending on the findings, to decide whether any changes needed to be made about which biofuels counted toward the goal.

The commission’s studies are intended to determine the volume of emissions created when forest or land is cleared to replace food production lost to biofuel crops. Converting land can release large amounts of greenhouse gases when vegetation is cleared. Plowing also exposes carbon stored in the soil to the air. In the lumbering jargon of emissions experts, these effects are known as indirect land use change, or I.L.U.C.

In a memorandum, Jean-Luc Demarty, the top civil servant in the agriculture department at the European Commission, wrote to a colleague in December that “an unguided use of I.L.U.C. would kill biofuels in the E.U.”

His words suggest that most of the models in the studies used for calculating emissions would rule out fuels made from crops currently produced in the European Union. That, he added in the handwritten note, “is probably the objective” of those who oppose incentives for some forms of biofuels.

Mr. Demarty declined to comment on Thursday, but other officials did not dispute the authenticity of the note. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that a number of biofuels would still meet emissions limits even after land-use changes resulting from increased biofuel demand.

But in the case of corn-based ethanol, the agency said that manufacturers would need to use “advanced efficient technologies” during production to meet American limits.

In Europe, commission officials are seeking to protect influential agricultural and industrial interests while maintaining a credible climate policy.

A spokeswoman for the European Commission, Marlene Holzner, declined to comment on what she termed internal working documents.

A group of environmental activists and lawyers made the European Commission document available to The International Herald Tribune this week. They contend the studies will support the case for using fewer biofuels and want the commission to release them.

Transport and Environment, a nonprofit group based in Brussels, first requested that the studies be released nearly four months ago.

Ms. Holzner said that the request’s “wide scope” meant it was “not possible to check all the relevant material” within the normal deadline for releasing documents. Under European Union rules, the commission has an obligation to respond to information requests, but may not necessarily grant them. Ms. Holzner, however, said a “first batch” of studies should be made available next week.

European governments agreed in December 2008 that only biofuels that reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent compared with fossil fuels should qualify for meeting the trade bloc’s current target.

But at the time, the governments directed the commission to investigate indirect land use change and, depending on the findings, decide whether any changes needed to be made about which biofuels counted toward the target.

Amandine Lecourt, the spokeswoman for the European Biodiesel Board, said negative effects on emissions from indirect land use change were “still unproved.”
By JAMES KANTER

For Adult Males

2010-02-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

Most of the Enzyte reviews on the different websites present a different picture of the product. Some of the Enzyte reviews do not even tell what this product is all about. It is a spell-binding product without any noteworthy side effects. The effectiveness of the product is actually judged by the positive feedback by the users. The more is the positive feedback the better it is in its action.

Enzyte male sexual enhancer for men is known as a natural supplement and not as a drug. Therefore under the law, the company or the brand is not required to prove the supplement's effectiveness. Enzyte claims that their men's sexual health alternative supplement is proven to be safer and more effective compared to Viagra. .

Enzyte consist of variety of minerals, herbs and vitamins, which are deemed effective and safe for human consumption. However, another ingredient involved in this controversial natural health supplement product is the African tree extract. African tree extract is commonly found in many premature ejaculation treatment drugs and erectile dysfunction medications. So definitely use this product is safe and proven

Crude Oil Price Forecast Using Technical Analysis

2010-02-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

There can be little question that energy costs have profound effects on all areas of the economy. Leading up to the Market top and subsequent crash in 2008, oil prices rose to unprecedented levels. It could be said that rising energy costs has as profound an impact on the economy as the credit default swap scandal.

That said, it would make sense to track and forecast crude oil prices as part of your high level market analysis process. Fortunately, it is perfect legitimate and effective to apply technical analysis techniques to oil prices, making it possible for traders to determine near term price movements in crude.

Using charting software such as stockcharts.com, traders can analyze chart patterns and apply technical indicators to predict the future direction and degree of movement. I recommend utilizing Monthly charts for determining the overall trend of crude, and weekly charts for examining chart patterns and daily charts for confirming pattern breakouts using technical analysis indicators.

One aspect of forecasting oil prices is that crude oil tends to trend, making it very easy to trade profitably. For instance, crude oil has been in a steady uptrend, creating a positive slopped support trendline at points in July, late September, and early December. This is a valid and strong trendline which suggest that crude will continue to rise.

Crude also tends to trade in channels and triangles. A break above or below these pattern lines suggests a large move is coming in crude. As of the writing of this article, crude oil recently crossed above its' 200 day exponential moving average, as well as broke out of the topside of a symmetrical continuation triangle. With little resistance overhead, it is quite reasonable that crude oil will continue to rise from it's current price of $83 / barrel, to over $96 per barrel.

As a technical trader, I usually don't spend much time talking about market fundamentals. However, there are some underlying forces that can never be ignored when doing market forecasts. Clearly the price of crude oil has had a profound effect on the stock market over the past 5 years.

You can clearly see that $70 crude oil caused the markets to slow down, eventually creating the tell tale double top. Once crude crossed $90 per barrel, the S&P 500 crashed through the 1400 support level, and the previous bull market which lasted nearly 6 years came to a screeching halt. Will it happen again? It's quite possible.

Follow Crude Oil Price Forecasts at the RecordPriceBreakout.com blog provided by Steve Warshaw, The Trade Detective, or follow him on Twitter

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Warshaw

Experienced

2010-01-30T06:35:00.000-08:00

Maybe this is experienced by many children under the age of 7 years, which is difficult to eat or eat a little enthusiasm, because at this age a child would rather play than eat, even children can forget the time when you're busy playing. I also experienced this, what my mom did? he gave me fishoil. When I asked why I had to drink it, she said let's appetite increases (my body was still thin).

Fish oil It was shown to increase appetite, after I drank my dinner again increased morale, and sometimes eat up to 4 times. After 2 to three months are always the desire to eat will come back again, that's when we drink fishoil back. So drink fishoil not just once but it takes some time until we wake up your appetite.
Fish oil but can also be used for adults, to increase the desire to eat more and also keep the body's metabolism. If you've eaten too much, instead of our parents are anxious .... Understandably eat increases ... inventory should also be added.

The Underutilized Forest and Wood Biofuel

2010-01-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

As people are waiting for "them" to make biofuel available as a source of energy there are many of us who have been using forest biofuel to heat our homes for generations. This biofuel is sold on the free market without government subsidies or a need for more research and development.

Wood can be made into many biofuel products like methane, alcohol, or diesel and it can be burned directly to power electric generators to produce electricity. All of these are expensive and energy intensive. After refining wood into these biofuels the cost and energy used has not made wood biofuel a viable source of energy. The exception to that is burning wood to generate electricity which has experienced some commercial success.

What people often overlook is a form of wood biofuel that requires very little or no processing and that is wood as a heating fuel. While people are waiting for biofuel they are still using fossil fuels to heat their homes when they could switch today to an economically proven biofuel heat source which is to burn wood.

Since there is little or no processing required, direct heating with wood is more efficient than turning wood into another fuel such as diesel or electricity. The raw material is directly converted to the desired product which is heat.

The most basic form of wood biofuel is simple firewood for wood stoves and fireplaces. This is a very desirable form of energy for many homes but it's not for everyone. Burning firewood does have some disadvantages such as wood handling, it can be messy and can produce smoke. Although modern wood stoves have come a long way in reducing emissions and efficiency. Modern wood stoves can burn with no visible smoke. Burning firewood is not as convenient as other heat sources since you have to continually feed fuel into the fire.

The alternative to fireplaces and firewood stoves is wood pellet stoves. Wood pellets require more processing but pellet stoves are more efficient than firewood stoves so it makes up for the difference. A pellet stove combines the use of renewable biofuel with the convenience of traditional electric, gas or oil heating systems.

Pellet stoves have automatic fuel feeding systems and are thermostatically controlled. Wood pellets are available today and have been proven as a heat source that is competitive and can even cost less than fossil fuels.

Both firewood and wood pellets are available as a practical source of forest biofuel that you can start using today. Which one you choose depends on your situation and preferences.

Learn more about wood pellets and learn more about firewood as biofuels.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_A_Wilson

HOME :: Investing / Futures-and-Commodities How To Invest In Crude Oil Futures And Options By MK Smith Article Word Count: 430 [View Summary] Comme

2010-01-08T08:13:00.000-08:00

Many people believe that the prices of crude oil futures and unleaded gas futures are too cheap at the current levels for various reasons but do not know how to invest in energy futures and options.

What is a crude oil futures option? A crude oil futures option is the right but not the obligation to buy (call) or sell (put) 1000 barrels of crude oil for a certain price (strike price) by a certain period of time (expiration date). The option buyer pays a premium for this right. A hypothetical example might be buying 1 June $65 crude oil futures call option for a premium cost of $1000. Keep in mind that premium cost does not include commissions and any related fees. The premium paid and the commissions and fees are the maximum risk of capital loss that an option purchaser might sustain. The person speculating on this particular crude oil futures call option is hoping for the price of June crude oil futures to increase enough for them to sell (offset) the option for a profit anytime before the option expires.

There are various futures contracts that are closely related to crude oil futures because they are made from crude oil such as heating oil futures and unleaded gas futures. An unleaded gas futures option gives the option buyer the right but not the obligation to buy (call) or sell (put) 42,000 gallons of unleaded gas for a certain price (strike) by a certain period of time (expiration date). A hypothetical example might be buying 1 July $1.80 unleaded gas futures call option for $900. Once again, the premium cost does not include commissions and fees. The premium paid and the commissions and fees are the maximum risk of capital loss that an option purchaser might sustain. The option speculator is hoping for the price of July unleaded gas futures to increase enough for them to sell (offset) their option for a profit anytime before the option expiration date.

Crude oil futures options and unleaded gas futures options investing are very risky and are not suitable for all investors. Buying options can lead to the loss of the entire amount invested.

Why are crude oil futures contract prices quoted in barrels and heating oil futures and unleaded gas futures contracts are quoted in gallons? One barrel of crude oil is 42 gallons so the contracts are actually leveraging the same amount of petroleum or the products. It is less confusing to have different contract quotes for the distillates of crude oil and the crude oil itself.

The author of this article has 13 plus years of commodity option trading experience and wishes to educate investors so they can make prudent investment decisions based on a deeper knowledge of the option markets before they risk their hard earned money. Future option trading is not for everyone and only risk capital should be used when investing. Visit http://www.tkfutures.com/education.htm to learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=MK_Smith

WEBHOSTING

2009-12-22T20:32:00.001-08:00

I have funny experience when i know domain and hosting for the first time. I've just known blogspot (like this blog) and i wanted learn more to develop my skill about internet. Finally i decided to study how to operate domain and hosting.

Domain is a name or address on the Internet while hosting is location of domain's data. Well, for renting hosting, i had rent it in web hosting. I rent hosting which my friend had recommended. Without readeing the rule of web hosting guide, I directly registered, signed and transferd my money they ask. After that, I changed my name server domain to website hosting. I tried to install Wordpress but failed. I couldn't find my domain on webhosting. I was Confused, then i asked the customer service webhosting, after chek my domain they said that domain name server was wrong.. I wrote L with 1.....

What Type of Renewable Energy is Best For You?

2009-12-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

Energy is considered renewable when it is generated from resources that are replenished constantly and naturally. The most commonly used sources are sunlight, moving water, wind, and geothermal heat. Whether you want to help preserve the earth's non-renewable fossil fuels by using renewable, clean energy, or you live in a remote area, how do you know what type is best for you? Following is a brief overview of the five main types of renewable energy.

Solar energy is the most widely used form of alternative energy. Sunlight is converted to electricity in three main ways: through the use of photovoltaic or solar cells; by heating air that turns turbines in a solar updraft tower; and in a plant that is concentrating solar power to run a generator. The most well-known of these is the solar cell.

Obviously, being able to use solar energy is dependent on the sun and how much of it you are able to harness. You also need a large area for the solar panels, whether they are mounted on a roof, a pole, or on the ground. Solar energy can also be converted to thermal energy for heating water, as in swimming pools or hot water heaters, and to heat air inside buildings.

Wind movement is used to generate electricity when it turns the blades of a wind turbine. As the wind speed increases, the power output also increases. When the blades of a turbine move, they turn the drive shaft they are connected to, which then turns an electric generator, producing electricity.

Being in an area where the wind blows most of the time is crucial for this method to be of any use. Having backup power is also necessary for when the wind dies down.

Water power is produced by flowing water that is converted into electricity. Rivers are the most common source, and ocean currents are also used. The water is funneled through a pipeline or restricted area to build up pressure. It is then forced through a turbine and the rotational force drives a generator, producing electricity.

Where there is flowing water, as in a river or ocean current, the force of the current is the pressure needed to turn the turbine. When water is accumulated, as in a dam, the force is provided when the water is released.

Biomass is organic material, primarily from plants, that can be burned to provide heat, or produce steam for making electricity. Wood is most commonly used, but garbage, crops, and manure are used as well.

Biomass is converted into other fuels like ethanol and biodiesel, which are burned in engines to release their energy. Ethanol is in most of the gasoline we use today and biodiesel can be used in diesel engines.

Geothermal energy comes from hot liquid under the ground, like hot springs and geysers. There are two main ways this liquid is used. The hot water can be piped into buildings as heat, and geothermal plants generate electricity from the hot water or steam they take from underground.

For additional resources, please visit http://www.gosolar4home.com

Carol is very interested in different methods of alternative energy, including smaller projects almost anyone can do. Go to http://www.GoSolar4Home.com for more information on converting your home to solar energy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Mack

Disposing of Waste Oil - Don't Dump it!

2009-11-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

The recent boom in alternative energy sources has some people looking towards restaurants and other businesses for fuel sources, while some business owners find themselves with the same old problem on their hands. What do you do with that used oil? You could hire a company to come take it off your hands, or you could give it to those who've already converted to bio diesel, but whatever you do- don't dump it.

Improperly Disposed Oil Is a Problem

Improperly disposed waste oil can not only be a big problem for wildlife in your area and cause serious damage to local water supplies, but did you know it can also cause issues with your septic and sewer system? You may think you're saving some money by dumping that oil, but in fact, you may find yourself with a much, much more expensive issue down the line. Dumped oil accounts for quite a heavy number of septic and sewer issues, and this is something that is totally avoidable. Some applied techniques actually makes it so you have to dispose of it less, which, again saves you money in the long term, so there really is no reason to dump, but many not to.

Salvaging Oil

Some have found that now, with conversion kits they are able to convert the waste oil into bio diesel- but hold one one second before you go running behind the McDonald's to grab their grease! If you aren't sure about the content of the grease, or you don't know exactly how to process it, or maybe you would just rather have someone else to make sure that you are converting properly, ask a technician. The company itself actually has processors to do just that- though not every franchisee may have this, they can often make sure that you are getting the best waste oil for the cause.

More creative types may find they can dispose of their waste oil by giving it to people who create things called 'slop logs'- basically using the oil and glop to make long, clean burning wood stove fuel. It may sound a little gross, but in fact, this can often lower a heating bill exponentially- enough that a little grease on their hands and some sawdust make it worth their while.

Another way to save some money off of waste oil is taking it to rendering companies- the grittier and gloppier the better. Taking your waste oil to a rendering plant and disposing of it can often be a profitable way of not only getting rid of it, but making a little cash in the process. These plants usually make animal feeds out of it, or find other uses for it you probably wouldn't think of, but now, won't have to.

On the whole, there are many options for waste oil removal, and if you are responsible, more often than not, there is some added benefit to doing it the right way.

If you are looking for an oil filtration service near you, check out the Filta Group. They also offer mobile franchise opportunities. You can get information on them by going to Filtafry or Filta Fry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Swanson

How Biofuel Leaked Into the House Health Bill

2009-11-10T05:33:00.000-08:00

By David M. Herszenhorn

At first glance, it might seem as if House Democrats were so overwhelmed by their ambitious legislative agenda that they confused their big climate change legislation with their big health care bill.

A package of last-minute changes to the Democrats’ health care bill made public on Tuesday night included a curious tax provision related to the production of biofuels, including ethanol. By changing some of the rules related to tax credits for biofuel manufacturers, the provision would raise about $24 billion in additional tax revenue from the biofuel companies over 10 years.

So what do biofuel producers have to do with health care? Actually, nothing. The change was all about the money.

In case anyone hasn’t noticed, there are few things that Congress hates more than raising taxes. As a result, two of the favorite euphemisms on Capitol Hill are “pay-for” and “revenue-raiser,” which are just fancy ways of describing a tax: something that “pays for” legislation, or “raises revenue” to pay for legislation.

But good revenue-raisers are hard to find. And when one is available, lawmakers often fight over it.

In the case at hand, Senate Democrats swiped a revenue-raiser that House Democrats had included in their health care legislation: a delay in a tax code change, which would result in multinational corporations’ paying $26.1 billion in taxes over 10 years that they would otherwise be spared. The Senate Democrats decided to use that tax revenue to help pay for legislation to extend unemployment benefits and a popular tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

But that move left a hole in the House Democrats health care bill and sent lawmakers in search of another way to raise revenue.

The solution was a change in the “second generation biofuel producer tax credit” which will make up most of the money taken by the Senate. In essence the change means some biofuel producers will receive less in tax credits than under current law. (The House also retained a limited version of the tax code change for multinational companies, which will generate $6 billion for the health care bill.)

Representative Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, who sponsored the biofuel amendment on behalf of the House Democratic leadership, said that it was both a good way to raise money and an improvement in alternative energy policy that Democrats would have carried out anyway.

“The idea is to make sure that biofuels get a tax credit to the extent to which they meet the energy efficiency goals,” Mr. Van Hollen said. “Number one, this is something we have been focused on in terms of good policy.”

But he also quickly added that the Senate’s swipe of the tax provision — technically a provision “to delay implementation of worldwide interest allocation” — had left the House no choice but to find more money.

The biofuel provision, Mr. Van Hollen added, “is a good piece of policy that also accomplishes the goal of providing revenue.”

Such a tug-of-war over revenue-raisers is hardly unusual in Congress. But at a time when lawmakers and the White House are thinking about ways of reducing the nation’s huge long-term debt, the current spat highlights how increasingly difficult it has become for lawmakers to generate revenue without imposing new taxes that will be felt directly by the constituents who elect them. President Obama’s promise not to raise taxes on Americans earning less than $250,000 a year has made that challenge even harder.

Some Republicans have been warning that Democrats are using most of the available revenue-raising ideas to pay for the health care legislation, rather than reducing the deficit. In the Senate, Democrats on the Finance Committee decided to limit all of the tax provisions in the health care bill to the health arena. Otherwise, the worldwide interest allocation provision might well have been included in the Senate Democrats’ own health care bill.

About Jatropha Curcas

2009-10-07T03:34:00.000-07:00

About Jatropha Curcas

Jatropha Curcas is a non edible oil crop predominately used to produce bio-diesel.

In addition to bio-diesel production, the by-product of Jatropha Curcas' transsterification process can be used to make a wide range of products including high quality paper, energy pellets, soap, cosmetics, toothpaste, embalming fluid, pipe joint cement, cough medicine and as a moistening agent in tobacco.

The Jatropha Curcas seed cake which is the waste by-product of the bio-diesel trans-esterification process can be used as a rich organic fertilizer.Jatropha Curcas grows best on well drained soils (pref PH 6-9) with good aeration but is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient content.

Jatropha Curcas grows well with more than 600mm rainfall per year and it can withstand long periods of drought. The plant sheds its leaves during a prolonged dry season.

Jatropha Curcas prefers temperatures averaging 20-28 degrees Celsius (68-85 degrees Farenheit). It can, however, withstand a very light frost which causes it to lose all its leaves and may produce a sharp decline in seed yield.

One tonne of Jatropha Curcas seeds will produce up to 600 litres of bio-diesel with proper management. Recommended planting rates of Jatropha Curcas are 2,000 / 2,500 plants per hectare (2.5 acres) One person can professionally plant, manage and harvest 5-8 hectares of Jatropha Curcas. 30kg of Jatropha Curcas fruit can be harvested per person, per hour. this information from http://www.jatrophacurcasplantations.com/

BioDiesel Technologies Launching First Commercial Jatropha Biodiesel Project in Brazil

2009-09-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

Brazil’s first commercial jatropha biodiesel project goes into operation this month following the delivery of BioDiesel Technologies’ (BDT) processing unit.

BDT will deliver an additional four processing units to increase the plant's annual capacity to 40,000 tonnes (about 10 million gallons US) by the end of 2007. The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will officially open the plant in September.

The Compact Production Unit (CPU) 1000, which is installed in a 20-foot ISO container, is designed to use oils and fats of vegetable and animal origin, or used edible oils. It produces 1,000 liters of biodiesel per hour (8 million liters per year).

Project operator, Compahnhia Productora de Biodiesel de Tocantins, has formed agreements with local cooperatives and small farmers in the state of Tocantins to supply the biodiesel facility with the required feedstock. This has led to the establishment of 48,000 hectares of jatropha plantation.

The multi-feedstock technology provided by BDT will also allow the use of animal tallow for the manufacture of biodiesel. This could prove to be a significant source of income to the large slaughter-house industry within the Tocantins state, which has more than 6 million head of cattle.

This operation, bringing local agricultural communities into the biofuel production process, is the model upon which future Biodiesel operations in Brazil will be constructed; hence President Lula will show his support for the project in September. Brazil has introduced mandatory blends of 2% by 2008 and 5% by 2013 as well as numerous tax incentives for biodiesel producers that source their feedstock from local communities.

Compahnhia Productora de Biodiesel de Tocantins is examining project sites for a further two projects within the region, taking total regional production to more than 120,000 tons of biodiesel per year.

BDT, a biodiesel equipment manufacturer and project developer based in Austria, has 17 multi-feedstock projects operating in 10 countries worldwide.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/08/biodiesel-techn.html

Jatropha Biodiesel

2009-09-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

Jatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulent plants, shrubs and trees (some are deciduous, like Jatropha Curcas), from the family Euphorbiaceae. Jatropha is native to Central America and has become naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas, including India, Africa, and North America. Originating in the Caribbean, the jatropha was spread as a valuable hedge plant to Africa and Asia by Portuguese traders. The mature small trees bear male and female inflorescence, and do not grow very tall. The hardy jatropha is resistant to drought and pests, and produces jatropha seeds containing up to 40% jatropha oil which, after being refined, can be turned into jatropha biodiesel with our biodiesel processor.

Downsides to Biofuel Vehicles

2009-07-19T11:12:00.001-07:00

We've all heard about environment concerns such as global warming, our need to reduce our dependence on non-renewal fuel sources, particularly foreign oil, and the overall need to be "green." Even car manufacturers are getting in on the act, working on a variety of more energy-efficient and lower polluting cars such as the hybrids you see on the road more and more.

There are certainly upsides to biofuel vehicles. For example, since so many biofuels are derived from plants, they are close to being carbon neutral since the next crop raised for biofuels will use the carbon dioxide released from using the previous biofuels crop.

They also don't produce anywhere near as many particulates or carbon dioxide. Nor do they give off sulfur emissions, which are responsible for acid rain.

Plus they can be grown locally, so we can't be held hostage to foreign oil producers like we are now. Nor do we have to compete with other countries for limited resources, giving us control over our own fuels as well as keeping those dollars in our own economy.

But biofuels aren't the magic answer some have been touting and, indeed, there are some real downsides to biofuels, as we're sadly discovering nowadays what with skyrocketing food prices that can't just be blamed on the price of gas.

Currently US government subsidies are provided for ethanol, but they are for corn ethanol. However, unlike Brazil who has effectively produced ethanol on the basis of sugar cane waste for the past 20 years, the United States actually uses the corn itself, not the stocks and leaves. This has multiple negative effects.

In the first place, corn production, whether for food or biofuels production, requires a great deal of energy that releases more greenhouse gases than they actually save. Corn production also requires a great deal of water. Plus, the more demand for corn, the higher the price of corn. This isn't just for the corn we eat as canned corn, corn on the cob or corn flakes. Corn is also a major grain food used by animals, such as chickens, cattle, cows and the like. That's why the price of eggs, milks and hamburger has gone up so much recently.

Other current food sources used for biofuels, such as rapeseed and palm oil, have the same downsides since they, too, are used as foodstuffs, such as vegetable oil. Not only that, but many countries are deforesting great areas in order to provide more land to growl biofuels crops. And deforestation wreaks havoc on the environment. Talk about a downside!

There are many other plant materials that can be used for ethanol production, including switch grass and even algae. Waste products, such as wood chips, straw and pulp could accomplish the same thing Brazil has done...use what's left over after food production, not replace food production with fuel. After all, we can't eat biofuels.

Take Care,
Steven Longoria

Fight high gas prices, reduce your carbon footprint, and sleep better at night by learning more about alternative fuel vehicles. Click Here--> Liquid Nitrogen Vehicles

Know How to Make Your Own Biofuel - Save Money Using It

2009-07-19T11:11:00.001-07:00

With the dependence on traditional fossil fuels through this years, the world is so much crippled that there is an impending oil crisis that will not only affect governments and businesses but on a deeper and more profound level, citizens. With this, the advent of revolutionizing alternative sources such as plants has become one of the last hopes we have, not only to save us from economic downfall but also to the plagues that traditional fossil fuels have caused the environment.

If you think the idea to make your own biofuel is too ambitious confined only to oil companies who have the logistics and enough funding and far from being done on your own, you are wrong. The FuelPod2 was invented to make everything in the process easier. This device though might at first be costly for you a beginner who is just trying it out to make your own biofuel.

Simple steps with just the simple ingredients and utensils with the right kind of vision are just what you need to make your own biofuel right in the comfort of your home while you don't have your sophisticated Fuelpod2 just yet. Yes, right inside your home. All you need is your waste vegetable oil as your main actor, the appropriate amount of lye to create a perfect chemical reaction producing the biofuel, alcohol needed during the heating and mixing proper to separate the glycerine from the final biodiesel fuel extract, and water of course for the final washing.

So, why know how to make your own biodiesel?
It's simple: Because the benefits are outstanding. The most important benefit is that you will reduce pollution of our planet, and if we start using more biofuel and less petrol our planet will be cleaner for our kids. The second benefit is the money that you can save. If you get a guide and learn how to make your own biodiesel you will spend 0$ on gas for your car. You will run your car on biodiesel and your engine will not be affected by running on biofuel.

These guides will show you exactly how to make your car run on biodiesel and how to make biodiesel in your own house. Don't you want to save at least 90% on gas costs?

Get 0$ Gas without modifying your car or your engine and without investing any money on your car.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Peterson

Make Biofuel at Home and Be the Businessman and Environmentalist That You Are

2009-07-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

Before the fossil fuel diesel became the main source of energy in almost all aspects of modern living, Rudolph Diesel revolutionize the use of biofuels with his engine that ran on peanut oil. Unfortunately, he was named after the fossil diesel that became of major use in all industries. Unfortunately, this type of fuel has become one of the major causes of environmental degradation, far from what Rudolph diesel envisioned.

Biofuels have been found to have tremendous contribution not only to the solutions on environmental problems but also its economic and energy security benefits. In terms of economy, biofuels can help ease the burden of the rising cost of fossil fuels and also provide another source of income for the agricultural industry since the sources are plants crops. Energy security will be enhanced since the production of biofuels has been made simple and doable through various researches. Furthermore, it will bring to a higher level our energy security since we will slowly move away from fossil fuels that will soon become scarce and used up because they are not renewable.

The best thing about this is that it does not take so much genius and sophisticated equipment and procedures to do it. Yes, you can make biofuel at home! It is feasible, easy, and simple. Just be always on the guard for accidents since fumes can be toxic and heating night cause burns.
To make biofuel at home, you will just have to be ready with your chosen vegetable oil, new or used. Prepare your additives such as lye and methanol and of course equipment such as glass jars, measuring devices, and your filtering, mixing and heating gadgets. If you are familiar with soap making, making biofuel is almost very similar to it.

The final stage is to separate the glycerine (the one turned into soap) and the liquid that stays on top, and that is your biofuel. With a little "How to.." with you, you can make biofuel at home effective and successful and might just turn this not only a benefit and big help on your energy needs but also a lucrative business venture. Aside from the business opportunity you might discover, you also turned yourself into the staunch advocate of environmental protection.

My personal advice to you is to get a guide that will tell you exactly how to make biofuel in your own home and use it on your own car. To help you, I have reviewed the best guides here. Don't waste 5$ a gallon anymore and start using biofuel.

People all over the world convert their cars to run on biofuel and they don't pay one dime on a gallon. Using these guides you will stop wasting 4$ on every gallon on gas, guaranteed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Peterson

INVESTMENTS IN JATROPHA

2009-07-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

ASIA - AFRICA - SOUTH AMERICA AND PACIFIC
►Green Investment in Alternative Fuel Supply Offers 345% Cash Returns over 5 year
►Jatropha cultivation can halt soil erosion, increase water storage in the soil and transform barren expanses into lush, productive land

►Learn How To Invest In A Plant That Could Fuel The World Jatropha Curcas
►Oil Programme up to 25% returns paid annually - 35 years term
Minimum investment: 10.000 EUR. There is no maximum to invest

►Leasehold Programme up to 25% returns paid annually - 99 years term
Minimum investment: 30.000 EUR. There is no maximum to invest

this information from http://www.1a-investment.com/55/Investments_in_Jatropha.html

How Ethanol Car Engines Work

2009-07-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

Ethanol cars work in a way very similar to normal gasoline cars, and are a great viable alternative fuel option because of current high gas prices. The only real difference is that ethanol car engines are able to utilize the biofuel ethanol instead of oil based gasoline.

Ethanol fuel itself is extracted from plants such as corn or sugarcane, and refined into an alcohol. This alcohol is suitable to be used as a biofuel in cars and other vehicles. Most hybrid automobile engines that use ethanol can also use gasoline, and are also called "flex-fuel" engines. The ethanol is injected into the engine in the same way as a non-hybrid automobile engine. Though ethanol gives slightly less miles per gallon than gasoline, it doesn't create as much air pollution when it is burned.

The similarities between ethanol "flex-fuel" engines and standard engines make ethanol cars cheaper than most alternative or hybrid vehicles, because they are built in much the same way as a regular engine. Ethanol is actually cheaper in some cases than gasoline, and thus a hybrid that runs on ethanol can be less expensive to operate than a gasoline based vehicle.

Most standard automobiles can even run on a 10% mixture of ethanol in gasoline. Many gas stations around the world offer ethanol as an alternative to gasoline, and in some countries cars are required to run on ethanol.

You can find out more information about Hybrid Cars at ProHybrid.com along with video news, reviews, and tools such as price quotes and an automotive loan calculator.

Article provided by ProHybrid.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_F_Stevens

The Biodiesel Car

2009-06-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

In today’s society, Researchers in the United States and around the world are searching for ways to develop alternate forms of fuel. With the ever-rising fuel costs, developing alternate energy is a priority.

Bio diesel was developed to combat the high gas and oil prices. It is especially made for use in bio diesel cars and trucks. Bio-diesel is made from all natural foods that produce oil. Oils such as vegetable, canola, peanut, rapeseed, palm and olive oil can be used as bio diesel fuel.

Virtually all oils that you use in your kitchen everyday can fuel one of these cars. It does not matter if the oil has been used, it can be strained and filtered and then used in the fuel tank.

Biodiesel fuel is a better for the environment because it burns cleaner and does not pollute the atmosphere. It is non-toxic and biodegradable, making it the perfect fuel.

Biodiesel fuel has been road tested and will get up to twenty-five miles to the gallon. That is better than some conventional mileage ratings.

Many car manufacturers are realizing that the bio diesel automobile is becoming more popular, and are jumping on the bandwagon and developing their own version of a biodiesel vehicle. They realize that the need for these vehicles will increase, and predict that they will be ready for the onslaught.

If you are interested in purchasing a bio diesel and do not know where to start looking, call local dealerships and ask if they offer this type of vehicle. Chances are that they either have bio diesel cars or can place a special order for you. You can also do a Google search to find a dealer that is close by.

The least expensive biodiesel car’s price starts at approximately $20,000 dollars. Depending on the style of car, it can range up to $60,000 dollars. The only reported differences in driving a biodiesel car is that in some cases, the mileage per gallon is greater than a conventional car.

If you want the convenience of a bio diesel car, and do not have the funds to buy one, there is always the option to buy a conversion kit. These kits allow you to convert your current vehicle into a bio diesel vehicle.

The kits are relatively inexpensive compared to a new bio diesel car. They start at $600.00. Although it is recommended that you have a professional mechanic do all the necessary work, full instructions and a help line are included for the do-it-yourselfer.

A car with a diesel engine does not need to be converted into bio-diesel. However it is recommended that the hoses be replaces on any diesel car that was made before 1990. When the diesel engine was created in 1892, it was designed to run on peanut oil before diesel fuel, making it the changes unnecessary.

It is however recommended that the engines of vehicles to be converted do not have rubber seals in them, as over time the oil will deteriorate the seals.

A biodiesel car is very easy to maintain. The only major problem that has been reported is that when the weather turns cold, the oil turns cloudy and in temperatures below 35 degrees, the oil can crystallize. The potential problem with this is that the crystals can plug the engine and not allow the fuel to flow properly.

Special heating units are sold to keep the oil at a constant temperature.

The general public is being encouraged to purchase bio diesel vehicles. As an incentive, the government is offering special tax write offs for those who purchase bio diesel automobiles.

In Hollywood, celebrities and activists who are earth conscience have made the commitment to drive biodiesel vehicles. At the moment, California has more biodiesel cars on the road than all other states combined.

Daimler Chrysler will introduce its version of the biodiesel vehicle in the 2007. The Jeep Grand Cherokee CDR will be the first biodiesel SUV to hit the market.

It will run on soybean and vegetable oil, as well as grease from fast food restaurants. It is a little humorous to think that you will be able to order dinner and fill your fuel tank in the same place, but that may possible in the not too distant future.

With the growth of the biodiesel automobile, biodiesel fuel manufacturers are needed. Currently in the United States, there are sixty-five biodiesel producing plants and about eight hundred and fifty biodiesel service stations. Experts predict that a lot more will be opening over the next few years. by: Daniel Roshard

The Advantages Of Using Biodiesel Fuel

2009-06-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

You might have heard a lot about biodiesel. Biodiesel is diesel that can power up your car that is made from vegetable oils and other natural sources. It does not come from the regular crude oil that usually has to be imported from oil-producing countries.

Biodiesel can be considered a new technology, taking into account all the years consumers have had to settle for traditional diesel. Using biodiesel for your car has many advantages:

1. Biodiesel is not harmful to the environment. Unlike its counterpart, a car using biodiesel produces fewer emissions. If a vehicle uses traditional diesel, the vehicle emits black, stinky smoke. With biodiesel, the smoke becomes very clean indeed.

2. Biodiesel may not require an engine modification. Some cars can take advantage of biodiesel without the need to undergo engine alterations. Some mix 20% biodiesel with regular diesel. Doing so enables the car to benefit from the good points of biodiesel without the hassle.

3. Biodiesel is cheap. You can even make biodiesel in your backyard. If your engine can work with biodiesel fuel alone, then you really need not go to the gas station to buy fuel. You can just manufacture some for your own personal use.

4. Biodiesel can make the vehicle perform better. It is noted that biodiesel has a cetane number of over 100. Cetane number is used to measure the quality of the fuel’s ignition. If your fuel has a high cetane number, you can be sure that what you get is a very easy cold starting coupled with a low idle noise.

5. Biodiesel can make your car last longer. Because of the clarity and the purity of biodiesel, you can be sure it will not have too many impurities to harm your car. It is actually more lubrication. A car’s power output is unaffected by this type of diesel.

6. Biodiesel reduces the environmental effect of a waste product. Because biodiesel is made out of waste products itself, it does not contribute to nature’s garbage at all. Biodiesel can be made out of used cooking oils and lards. So instead of throwing these substances away, the ability to turn them into biodiesel becomes more than welcome.

7. Biodiesel is energy efficient. If the production of biodiesel is compared with the production of the regular type, producing the latter consumes more energy. Biodiesel does not need to be drilled, transported, or refined like petroleum diesel. Producing biodiesel is easier and is less time consuming.

8. Biodiesel is produced locally. A locally produced fuel will be more cost efficient. There is no need to pay tariffs or similar taxes to the countries from which oil and petroleum diesel are sourced. Every country has the ability to produce biodiesel.

Biodiesel is surely a viable fuel alternative. Moreover, it is also a sustainable fuel. Using biodiesel not only helps maintain our environment, it also helps in keeping the people around us healthy.

The production of biodiesel all over the world is now being looked upon favorably. In Europe, many biodiesel stations have been set up already. There is also a move to convert or make cars compatible with biodiesel fuel in the near future.

Biodiesel can surely change the way vehicles are manufactured and used. It is surely the best substitute right now, and everyone should consider ways to take advantage of the benefits of biodiesel.
by: Win Paulson

BioFuel a Greener Energy Future

2009-06-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

The growing global demand for energy has caused a steep rise in energy prices, notably for petroleum-based fuels which are the prime source of energy for most of the world's power plants, machinery, and transportation. As more and more so-called "fossil fuels" are burned to create energy, there has also been a steep rise in the emission of polluting gases around the world. Personal automobiles are the main culprit, since they produce most of the cardon dioxide (CO2) released daily into the atmosphere. CO2 is considered a "greenhouse gas," trapping heat from the sun at the surface of the earth much the way a greenhouse traps heat inside its glass walls.

Biofuels are by definition any fuel that, by being burned, can be converted to energy, and that is produced from a biological source. Since a biological source is also a renewable one, biofuels are reproducible. Unlike fossil fuels of which there is a fixed amount on earth, biofuels can continue to be produced so long as a source of biomass is available. The types of raw material that be converted into biofuel include organic plants, animals (especially animal fat), and even animal and human waste material.

One type of fuel already being produced from biological sources is biodiesel. This fuel, which burns cleaner than its petroleum-based cousin, can be used by most diesel engines without any need for conversion. Many companies are already involved in the production and distribution of a form of biodiesel known as B20. B20 is a mixture of petroleum-based diesel and biofuel "diesel equivalent."

Biofuel is already being made from corn and soy, for example. But using corn and soy has correspondingly driven up the demand for both foods, which while being ideal for biofuel production, are also consumed as food by people around the globe. Using these foods for biofuel has pushed up their cost considerably, which in turn has created food shortages in some areas of the world. This has produced an unexpected quandary for biofuel proponents.

If biofuel is ever to become a true alternative to fossil fuels, a way is needed out of this quandary. One possibility is the use of algae as a biofuel foodstock. Algae have the advantage of being a non-food source which can be produced in areas not already being used to grow other types of food. Corn, soy and cottonseed must be grown on arable land. Algae can be grown in pools, in warm climates around the world, and acre per acre algae yield over a hundred times the quantity of biomass of soybeans.

Since algae take in, rather than produce, carbon dioxide, the very foodstock being used to create biofuel can itself be a cause for a reduction in a significant greenhouse gas. Algae biofuel farms could therefore benefit from a dual income stream. The first is from the sale of the algae itself to refineries for the production of biofuel. The second is income generated from the use of the algae farm as a consumer of other forms of pollution.

Some companies have recognized the benefit to poorer communities of developing the market for biofuels while at the same time encouraging the development of foodstock supplies such as algae farms. These companies are planning to encourage production of foodstock for biofuel in poorer countries to supply the energy needs of more developed areas of the world should raise everyone's quality of life, both in economic terms and in terms of encouraging a cleaner global environment.

Mr. Naved Jafry is the head of Zeon Global Energy. Zeon is committed to produce and promote the biofuels. For more information about ZEON please visit Newswire.net Newswire.net is a social network newswire service providing members with a wealth of applications that enable them to create an in depth profile within Newswrie.net. To create your profile (http://www.newswire.net) sign up and within minutes you too can have your People profile running your ads and building your network with new members daily.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Naved_Jafrey

Jatropha for Biodiesel

2009-05-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

I know all of you are wondering why I am writing about a little known plant called "Jatropha Curcas". Well... it all has to do with making biodiesel and the production of electricity using biodiesel as a fuel. This is to inform you of a source of vegetable oil that is relatively unknown in the United States and North America. The European community has already seen the light as have some Asian, African, Indian, and South American countries. Running engines on vegetable oil is nothing new... did you know that Rudolf Diesel originally designed his engine to run on peanut oil? Maybe the US has not seen the light yet because we are mostly engaged in the growing of food crops and oils like soybean oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, and peanut oil. All these oils are edible and thus fetch high prices. After all, why should US farmers grow a completely inedible plant!? Used cooking oil is great for the "do it yourself" biodiesel enthusiast, but there is not enough supply of used cooking oil to supply a whole nation.
This is where Jatropha comes in...

Jatropha has the following benefits when looked at from the fuel production angle:

* it costs almost nothing to grow

* it is drought resistant

* it can be grown almost anywhere - even in sandy, saline, or otherwise infertile soil

* it is easy to propagate (a cutting simply pushed into the ground will take root)

* it is not invasive, or spreading, or damaging like kudzu

* it is capable of stabilizing sand dunes, acting as a windbreak, and combating desertification

* it naturally repels both animals and insects

* it lives for over 50 years producing seeds all the time

* it is frost hardy (does not like hard freezes)

* it does not exhaust the nutrients in the land

* it does not require expensive crop rotation

* it does not require fertilizers

* it grows quickly and establishes itself easily

* it has a high yield (Jatropha can yield about 1,000 barrels of oil per year per square mile - oil content of the seed is 55-60%)

* no displacement of food crops is necessary

* it is great for developing countries in terms of energy and jobs

* the biodiesel byproduct, glycerine, is profitable in itself

* the waste plant mass after oil extraction can be used as a fertilizer

* the plant itself recycles 100% of the CO2 emissions produced by burning the biodiesel

That's a whole lot of benefit with little or no disadvantages!

The European Union biofuels directive requires a minimum level of biofuels as a proportion of fuels sold in the European Union of 2% by 2005, 5.75% by 2010 and 20% by 2020. Of course, as the President stated recently on TV, we don't have any such energy program yet. And I doubt we will anytime soon. The main green fuels will be ethanol and biodiesel, and demand for biodiesel is expected to be up to 10.5 billion litres just in European countries by 2010.

Folks... this "biodiesel" thing is going to happen whether you like it or not! I know there are a lot of farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors reading this who can cash in on this biodiesl craze. They are already doing it big time in Europe so it's just a matter of time before it happens here. And by "it", I mean using Jatropha to make biodiesel. This industry will grow very quickly - start planting Jatropha TODAY and then start making biodiesel to generate your own electricity!

For more information on making biodiesel and generating electricity using biodiesel, visit Bill Anderson's website at http://www.biodieselmake.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Anderson

Jatropa Curcas: The Bio Diesel Medicinal Plant

2009-05-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

Jatropa Curcas or locally known as Tuba in our country has been used by our ancestors as a folkloric medicine for rheumatic pains, snake bites and also insecticide. The leaves are used as medicine for muscle ailments like rheumatic pains. Simply by applying oil on the leaves and heated by flames and then applied to the skin on where the ailments are. Although it has medicinal properties, the fruit and seed is not edible and poisonous when ingested. The leaves have anti-inflammatory properties but toxic when excessively used internally. The pounded leaves when pounded and made into a poultice can be used to aid in snakebites and also effective as an insecticide.

This shrub is erect and the leaves have a usually somewhat rounded at the base, pointed at the tip and toothed at the margins. Distributed though out the Philippines and neighboring Asian countries.

Although this is an important addition to the many medicinal herbs (which you can also find some Philippine medical plants in my site on the resource box link below), it is now been discovered as a good bio diesel alternative or additive. Very cost effective and very close to the chemical properties of (fossil) diesel fuel we are using today. Unlike the coconut oil or alcohol additive, which are expensive to produce, Jatropa curcas or tuba is much cheaper. A liter of pure coco bio diesel would cost over P120 or US$2.50, which is why only small amounts of it can be mixed with regular diesel fuel to produce a competitively priced alternative.

Since there are no much demand for tuba, and very easy to propagate the plants, it is cost effective. And imagine you can extract 1 liter of oil from 3 kilos of seeds. There are no complicated processes of extracting oil from the seeds unlike coconut oil and alcohol bio diesel. Seeds are sun dried and grounded to extract oil from it.

India now leads in the development of Jatropa curcas bio diesel fuel and now people in our country are becoming aware with the help of media. And hoping that the government will push through in promoting this bio diesel fuel. Research on jatropha biodiesel production in the Philippines is being undertaken by the research and development facility in Diliman, Quezon City, of PNOC Energy Development Corp.

In India they are talking about planting jatropha in as much as 33 million hectares of wasteland. The proponents envision plantations that can produce enough oil seeds from which biodiesel could be extracted to meet India’s current diesel fuel requirement of 40 million tons annually. Five tons of jatropha oil seeds can produce two tons of biodiesel.

The Indian proponents of jatropha biodiesel point out, among others, that the plants “grow on poor degraded soils and are able to ensure a reasonable production of seeds with very little inputs. [They are] not grazed by animals [and are] highly pest and disease resistant.”

About the author: Manolito Montala is a webmaster and one of his interests is collecting local medicinal plants information which can be found in Filipino Herbs Healing Wonders. You can visit his site in http://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manolito_Montala

Cellulose Ethanol - Second Generation Biofuel

2009-05-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

In the search of renewable energy, turning low volume materials such as switch grass and corn husks into ethanol to fuel cars in some thing of a holy grill. In theory these raw materials should replace the corn grain from main feed stock of ethanol in United States, thus reducing the pressure farmland that played a role in increasing food prices and put drivers into compaction with human hunger.

Front line researchers and investors are finding it hard to market this process commercially and environmentally viable.

Microbiologist Anthony Clarke at the University of Guelph in southwestern Ontario sees the future of renewable fuel but dose not find corn kernel feasible. Anthony states that we have all the other parts of a corn plant, leaves stalk and the husk to produce cellulose ethanol and he also mentions the acid and energy required in the process... turning plant waste into cellulose ethanol is not an simple procedure as acid and stem required in the processing both need energy to be made. So more energy in going in at the moment then the amount being recovered. With the current technology cellulose delivers less energy then corn. But if the scientists succeed in developing there dream technology cellulose ethanol can be 3 to 8 times more efficient then corn ethanol.

Clarke and his team are working on micro organisms that produce cellulose enzymes that can munch on these raw materials the way bacteria in cow help break down and digest grass.

This bio-technology should allow production of cellulose ethanol on commercial scale, resulting into a cheep bio-fuel not directly linked to food grain. This research is being funded by Logen an Ottawa-based market leader of second generation bio fuels.There is another very common negative approach towards bio fuels. Canadian energy coordinator David Martin, agrees to the fact that plants provide a cleaner source of fuel compared to fossil fuel as no new CO2 is added to the atmosphere.

Last 1 year of reviews portrayed bio fuel manufacturers as a space goat or giant maggots graving away all the food grain holding them responsible for inflation in food. Price of a bushel in the past three years raised thrice with a record of $6 and above.

Canadian produce and distributor of Greenfield ethanol Robert Gallant agrees to the fact that the height cost of grain is directly related to the high cost of fuel in USA and even in Pakistan where energy scarcity is common. It should be clear that the lift in the cost of grain has very little to do with the actual cost of the grain. Robert also foresees corn ethanol as a step stone towards cellulose ethanol, and hope that cellulose ethanol should be able to take place of wheat & corn ethanol which s a major source of ethanol production in north America.
Hopes are that when cellulose ethanol comes into the market it should be able to replace not only grain ethanol but also quite a few petroleum products, this also means a promise of a positive environmental impact with this second generation of bio fuels.

I'm a student of urban sustainability and permaculture and wish to learn as much as I can about sustainable and eco-friendly development. http://thegreenbend.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abdul_Hannan

Biofuel - Fuel for Airplanes?

2009-05-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

On the verge of several new inventions Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 was tested to fly on Biofuel. It was the first commercial jet ever to fly on Biofuel, a fuel produced from plant matter instead of petroleum or other fossil fuels.

This plane was tested with five people on board on one of London Heathrow's two main runways. There were around 100 people watching to evidence this event standing on a nearby hangar. Virgin founder, Richard Branson told reporters just before its take off that, "This is the first stage on a journey towards renewable fuel," His voice was not clear because of deafening noise of overhead planes.

For experiment purpose, Virgin's eco-plane ran only one engine with that fuel and the other three engines were filled with standard jet fuel. In addition the Biofuel-powered engine was using a blend of conventional jet fuel and Biofuel: 80/20 in favor of the regular stuff. In sum just 5% of the 49,000-lb (22,000 kg) fuel load consisted of the novelty: a special mix of coconut oil and oil from the Brazilian babassu plant, prepared by Seattle-based Imperium Renewable over the last 18 months and tested by General Electric Aviation in Ohio.

Commenting against the people who were stating this incidence as mere publicity stunt, people said that it was just a businesses claim, meant merely as a demonstration. Branson told reporters, "What we're proving today is that Biofuel can be used for a plane," He further added, "Two years ago, people said it was absolutely impossible."

It was also feared that Biofuel would freeze before a plane reached cruising altitude, or that it would require massive and costly changes to the aircraft or fueling systems to work at all. Those all believes were proved wrong with this successful experiment. The fuel used by Virgin did not require any equipment modifications and it flew to 25,000 feet (7,600 m) without incident; and the environmental benefits seem clear, at least once the fuel is loaded onto the plane.

Want the best online deals for your purchases? Let DealWhiz be the whizard which helps you in getting the best mobile phone deals and popular deals with Nike online store. Try it now to save money with exclusive money saving deals every day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Pratt

How to Produce Biofuel

2009-05-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

If you can master the basic skill of how to produce biofuel and conjure up the equipment and ingredients in making bio fuel then you can save a lot of money and possible even make a couple of bucks in selling your product.

It is rather simple once you have a grasp of the fundamental principle of how to produce biofuel. All it takes is a few equipments which you can buy online, in your local hardware and even in the grocery. Also some chemicals to facilitate the transformation of the main ingredient, which is waste veggie oil, would be needed to make a batch of this safe form of fuel.

To begin with making your first batch, you need to make sure that you have a supplier of used vegetable oil. You can get this from the closest restaurant in your place. It would be best to make arrangements with the manager so that you have first dibs on the used oil of that day.

Once you have that all set, you will need a bio diesel kit. You can order this online or assemble one for yourself. The parts and accessories are not that hard to find so no excuses there.

You would need to get some reagents that you will need to use in how to produce biofuel. This would be methanol (racing fuel) and sodium hydroxide (household lye).

Using the biodiesel kit, the veggie oil will be mixed with the catalysts which are methanol and lye. Once mixed, this will make your veggie oil in a fuel fit for a diesel engine. Of course, this product will undergo washing and filtration to be at optimal condition to be used in a diesel engine.

This would pretty much summarize how to produce biofuel. Once mastered, you'll be on your way to powering your own engine and possibly selling some of the leftovers. If you are interested in a guide that you show you exactly how to produce biofuel in your own garage, then read more here.

Best Guides to start using biodiesel on your car. Why not pay 1 cent a gallon instead of 4 $ a gallon?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Peterson

The Wide Variety of Biofuel Sources

2009-05-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

There are many pros and cons of methanol fuel, but this alternative energy source can play a part in meeting the energy needs of the future. Methanol may also be called wood alcohol or M85 which is a blend of 85% percent methanol mixed with 15% gasoline. This type of biofuel is similar to ethanol and is very efficient and clean burning, making it eco friendly. Methanol is produced using a process that starts with methane gas and then uses steam and catalysts to turn this gas into biofuel. There are a few disadvantages to methanol, because this fuel does not operate as well in cold weather, but this problem has been fixed when M85 is created instead of a straight methanol mixture. Methanol does not contribute to global warming or pollution, and is a very powerful alternative fuel source.

Another earth friendly option is the biomass fuel biobutanol as direct replacement of gasoline. Biobutanol offers many benefits. This fuel is a better alternative than ethanol and fossil fuels. Biobutanol does not have a corrosive effect like ethanol, and requires less engine maintenance and repair. It does not evaporate as quickly as other fuels, so it can be stored much longer without losing effectiveness. There is no conversions or alterations needed to a traditional gasoline engine to burn biobutanol fuel instead, so switching over can be very convenient and simple to do. It is a biofuel which is low cost, clean burning, and could be used right now in place of traditional gasoline and other fossil fuels.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as LPG, is another solution to using fuels which do not pollute or speed up global warming, even though this fuel is really a fossil fuel found in the earth. What is a liquefied petroleum gas? This fuel is a naturally occurring gas that can be found around other fossil fuel reserves in the earth, and is a combination of both propane and butane gas. This fuel is carbon based, but half a million vehicles in the U.S are LPG fueled and it does not have a negative impact on the environment. The gas is highly pressurized and there is an airtight delivery system, so no gas can get into the air. This fuel reduces sulfur in the air and acid rain, as well as greenhouse emissions and air pollution.

Another alternative method is to use municipal solid waste management to produce biomass fuel. This technology takes municipal solid waste, or garbage, and turns it into biofuels which can power your car, as well as electricity and heat for your home. Cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel can be produced from municipal solid waste. All organic materials can be used in these processes to provide biofuels which are safer and nicer to the earth and environment. Biofuels cut down on carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, and will not contribute to global warming. A few third world countries have objected to biofuels because of food shortages, but using municipal solid waste to produce biofuels does not affect the food supply at all.

One alternative and renewable fuel source is waste vegetable oil, also called WVO. The future of waste vegetable oil, just like the future of municipal solid waste management, is strong and bright for the same reasons. Both technologies take something that has been discarded and turns it into a valuable energy resource. Many people have seen commercials and news stories about cars and owners who use discarded waste vegetable oil for fuel. The oil must be strained, but that is the only disadvantage. The energy needs of the future must be met with environmentally friendly sources, and WVO can be one of these.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelly_Wagar

Important Facts About Biofuel Production

2009-05-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

Biomass fuel production in different countries can be a touchy subject, because not all countries agree with the production and use of biofuels. India is very outspoken in their dissent, because of the mistaken belief that biofuel production takes away from the food supply and contributes to global hunger. Biofuels are produced from biomass, which is an organic material such as dead plant particles, manure or municipal solid waste. More than 20 countries so far have biofuel production facilities and programs in place, with others moving forward in this arena as well. Biofuels do not have to be made with corn or soybeans, Germany is using rapeseed, and there are many other sources that do not come from food crops. These fuels are the future of the energy used globally, because soon fossil fuels will be gone. Biofuels are an environmentally friendly alternative that will be used to meet future energy needs.

It is not widely understood by many but biofuel production can help third world economies instead of causing problems. The production of these fuels offers many benefits to these economies. The entire economy of the local area can be improved. Using local employees and materials mean more income and taxes, as well as an improved infrastructure to serve the plant and community. Farmers would be paid regularly for their crops, and the transportation of these materials is much less because they are local. Biofuels and food do not have to compete, and farmers can grow food crops on fertile land and grow biofuel crops on land that is useless for any food farming.

One of the advantages of biofuel production is that biomass fuel can be produced at comparably low cost. Whenever fuel is produced, regardless of the origin of the fuel, cost is always going to be a factor. Just a few years ago biofuels were not widely produced, and this led to a higher cost for these fuels. Ethanol, biodiesel and biogas can all be produced at a low cost financially, and a large benefit ecologically. These fuels offer many benefits and are seeing more widespread use. Ethanol is alcohol based and created through a fermentation process. Biodiesel uses oils and fats from plants and other organic materials in a process called transesterification. Biogas is usually produced from specially designed landfills and waste to energy plants and programs. Using these biofuels can also help to combat a global warming.

In a recent amazing discovery, growing biofuel on trees is also possible. There is a specific tree, called the diesel oil tree, that can be tapped to recover an oil that is remarkably easy to turn into biodiesel. This tree will produce the oil for seventy years, and Australian farmers are growing plantations of them. A fungus, called Gliocladium roseum has been located in trees in the Patagonia rainforest, and it creates carbon chains identical to the ones found in petroleum. Unfortunately, right now these are only produced under very strict and narrow conditions, but the breakthrough has lead to more research. Biodiesel can play a big part in reducing pollution and global warming, and making the earth a better place to live for everyone.

The benefits of bio fuel production to the world are many. Fossil fuels are quickly being depleted and can not be replaced. Alternative sources of energy are numerous, and eco-friendly, but most of these, like solar, wind, and ocean energy, can not be used to power a vehicle. These technologies can be used to provide heat and electricity for homes and buildings though. Biofuels are carbon neutral so they do not speed up global warming, they are an environmentally friendly source of fuel that is renewable, and they are the answer to meeting the fuel needs of the future. Any organic material can be used to make biofuels, and these fuels can make a big difference to the planet. Until recently though, they were not in high demand because of the low cost and availability of fossil fuels.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelly_Wagar

Home insurance

2009-05-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

Many of us who do not care about the condition of their homes, they only use as a shelter, take shelter and safety of their own. But do they also protect their homes from a variety of things that may happen? What a disaster that we can input. Do they also enjoy being in the case of a disaster destroyed their homes and have not paid the installments.

Surely this is not you want is not it? Houston Home Insurance offers the easy way to protect your home from various disasters, and in a cost more easily arranged. All depends on how you define with Houston Home Insurance. Enjoy the many amenities and comforts of living feels you with the house that already has insurance.

Methanol is Different than Ethanol, But it Can be Used for Automobile Fuel

2009-04-28T09:49:00.001-07:00

What is Methanol? Well it is wood alcohol or methl-alcohol and for automobiles there is an M85 Blend, which is like the Ethanol E85 Blend. The M85 Blend has 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent methanol. In the United States our methanol blends use natural gas but we can also make it from coal, biogas, sewage were even cow pies, pasture patties, meadow muffins, sidewalk Sundays and well, you get the point.

The good thing about methanol is the octane rating is fairly high in that means good performance and even better performance than normal gasoline. The methanol can be unstable it is used in some high performance racecars, but when it is mixed with gasoline it is not quite is dangerous.

Since most methanol is made from natural gas and natural gas can be expensive it can be problematic and it is difficult to store because it is very corrosive. Ethanol is much more efficient and you get better economy than with ethanol. Ethanol refineries cost less to build also, as methanol refineries are really distilleries and when you make methanol from natural gas you actually get CO2, which believes the atmosphere or has to be collected.

All in all ethanol is the better bet and this is why ethanol E85 has been chosen as the biofuel of choice for our cars. Of course Methanol makes sense to power other things and it can be an option in other endeavors. Consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Home Biodiesel Production Part 2

2009-04-28T09:48:00.001-07:00

Now that we've filtered our oil, we're now going to make a batch of biodiesel. And we want to show you what you do. We now have filtered oil. I have oil in a 55 gallon drum, and I'm going to put oil into this machine. Inside this machine it has marks that tell me the different sizes, and so I will transport this oil in using this big behemoth. Click it on, and then we can start the flow by turning the power on. I've already preloaded this machine full of oil, but basically this suck pump would suck the oil up, and put it into this machine. Once the oil is in here then we're ready to get started with the batch. Remember it takes methanol, and lye, and we use a secret ingredient, we use sulfuric acid and I'll tell you what that's for in a minute.

After we've loaded our oil into this machine it's now time to load the chemicals and everything else needed to get it going. Our next is to put methanol into these quarts up here. So I'm going to climb up here, and what we have is; one quart for our methanol, one quart for our methoxide, which is going to be our combination of sodium or potassium hydroxide, we're going to use potassium hydroxide in this case, and some methanol. I have some handy gauges on the side here that let me know when I get the amount of methanol I've needed, into the machine so I'm just going to step down here for a moment, put my methanol in the barrel, and I'm going to chug away, with a pump, then I'll get methanol into our machine here.

What you see now is a gauge that's coming up. You're able to see that we can fill this full of methanol. This tank is going to be used for what we call our estarification process which is where we use sulfuric acid. We'll show you that in a minute, but for now it's time to get the methanol into the machine.

The next step that we're going to do is we're going to measure out some chemicals. It's really important that you wear something to protect your face and hands because what we're about to do is really nasty. Using a scale, we're going to way out enough catalyst to make our biodiesel with. I have tarred my scale, and what that means is I've set it to zero so I know how much I'm putting in. I'm going to bring this up to 1600 grams and I'm going to do it again. So my goal is to put 4800 grams of catalyst into that machine. So with that, we're going to take it over and put it in.

The next step is to put the catalyst into the machine. This is a very careful process of making sure all the stuff in the pitcher just gets into the machine. It generates lots of dust. It's kind of gross. It's basically annoying, but it's a necessary evil. I have to do this a couple more times and then we'll be ready to start a batch.

So we've got now a certain amount of catalyst in here, and we're now going to introduce methanol. A chemical reaction is going to occur. I'll top that off. It's important that after you've put the catalyst in that you seal your catalyst back up. So we're now going to go over and seal our catalyst before we get started on our next set.
One of the things that we do when we're done with our catalyst is we seal everything so that we don't let the catalyst get moist. So, I've sealed my catalyst bucket that I've got, I'll get a towel and cover up my scale, to keep it nice and dry. I put this inside here to keep it dry and I cover everything. I don't want any moisture getting on there. Our next step is to put more methanol in the machine, and we'll get the batch started.

The Hypertech Diesel Programmers & Quadzilla Diesel Parts are both fully compatible with biodiesel- Nathan Young

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Young

Making Biodiesel at Home - Part 1

2009-04-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hi! On behalf of Parleys Diesel Performance and Utah biodiesel supply we're now going to show you how to make a large batch of biodiesel. We're going to show you how we collect out oil, we'll talk a little bit about how we filter our oil, how we transfer that oil into a biodiesel processer, how we do the process, and then how we use the fuel. We're going to talk about various things along the way so let's get started.

First of all we have a shop, that we go out and collect oil in 55 gallon drums. We put these drums behind restaurants that we've contracted with, and they put oil into these drums, and then we bring them back to this shop on the back of a truck. We have a lift-gate on the back of the truck so it makes it really easy to swap them in and out. A lot of people try to collect oil using pumps, they'll go and they'll actually pump the oil, and we tried that for a little while, but a lift-gate was just so much easier. They're about 2,500 to 3,500 dollars but they are the best thing in the world. If you get one be sure you don't let your uncles, aunts, friends, and everyone else know because soon you'll be transporting pianos down the street. They're just a wonderful piece of equipment to have on a truck. However, what we have when we go to collect oil is, we'll bring a barrel back here, bring it right to about here, and then we'll get out a filter. And this looks nice and kind of grimy. It's a four-hundred micron baron filter. We put it over the barrel, and we filter the oil. Once our filtered oil is done we'll haul it to a production facility that I'll show you in a moment, and we make the biodiesel.

I want to tell you a little bit about what we use here. Remember in our smaller setting we talked about using methanol, lye, and oil. Well, up here is our methanol. This methanol is a 325 gallon tank. Most of you won't need anything this large, but we make so much fuel we get this delivered to us. Then we go through it and we take it back to our area. You can get it pretty cheap when you get it this way. This is a 55 gallon drum. This is typically how methanol is purchased. This is one common way. The easiest way to transport it home, it can be put on the back of a pick-up. And then when you get it home you get to transport it into the back of your biodiesel processor.

These are our glycerin barrels, and as we produced our fuel if you'll remember right we had our byproduct of glycerin. So we just take that glycerin out of the machine and we'll come over here and we pour this glycerin right into these barrels. The glycerin's going to contain crude glycerin, some soap, some catalyst, and some methanol. We cap these barrels up, we use our lift-gate, we throw it on the back of the truck, and we haul it over to a waste water treatment plant where they take it off our hands. They add it to their methane digester which produces methane gas they use to run their generators. We get rid of it that way. They don't charge us for it, we don't get paid to get it taken off our hands, but it's a nice way to get rid of it. Once we get the glycerin out of here we then can take the fuel out of here and make biodiesel with it. I'll show you in a moment how we make the fuel.

After we have our oil filtered, in a drum such as this, we get a sump pump. And all this is is a good old cheap sump pump from Home Depot, Lowe's, what have you. We've mounted a big pipe on it, and a tube, and we use this to fill the machine full of oil. We just turn it on, it works great, we put these drum on dollies so that we can move them over to our equipment, and we're able to make biodiesel. A moment ago we showed you some methanol. This is a methanol drum right here. This is just a pump that we've attached to it so that we can quickly pump methanol into our machine. We're going to make a batch today so you can see how that works as well. Methanol, oil, and then if he pans over to my side over here, this is lots and lots of catalyst. This particular catalyst contains potassium hydroxide, and we use it to make biodiesel. Remember it takes methanol, oil, and catalyst to make fuel. Behind me is on the right is fuel. This is biodiesel that we have produced in our machines. We'll show you how that's done, and this fuel is ready to use in diesel pickups. Again remember it's being made for about a dollar a gallon, and we are able to save ourselves a lot of money by using what normal people would throw away. Welcome to biodiesel, we'll show you how to filter, we'll make a batch, and be on our way.

Once we've brought our oil into our warehouse we have to filter it. In order to make biodiesel it's a really good idea to filter it so you get all your crustys and crunchys out. This is just a 55-gallon drum strainer. It's a 400 micron. It's the one that we personally use. It looks kind of gross and uky but we've probably put about 3,500 gallons of fuel through this filter. So they're really durable and they last long. It's just a poly based filter. You can get them on most sites. Take a look at my site I carry them as well. We're going to put the filter on, we're going to take our oil and just simply poor it through it. Now, oil coming from restaurants is really gross, and nasty. As you see there are some crustys and stuff in here, and as you notice it doesn't like to go through this really quick so we get ourselves a spatula with rounded corners, and we just scrape back and forth to let those crustys go out. So this oil is just going to filter through. Can you hear it filtering down in there? Once it's filtered we'll take it into our lab or into our shop and make biodiesel. So we're going to kind of let this sit here for a while while we go do that. One thing I want to show you though, a lot of times you're going to get really thicky crap oil and you need to get rid of the crustys. So we cut a car boy open which is what your going to typically get oil in, and we just scrape it into there. So again I'm just moving back and forth real slow. You can see some of those chunks that I'm getting out of that. It's usually food particles and stuff from the grill, it's French fries, just all that stuff they put in the oil over at the restaurant that you really don't want in your fuel. Particularly in your truck, okay? I'm just going to filter that out, and our next step is showing you how we load our machine, full of oil. Then we're going to make a batch. So we'll see you in a second.

Our next step is we've filtered the oil so now it's time to make the biodiesel. Remember from before, to make biodiesel you need a heated mixture, so I happen to have sitting next to me one heck of a heated mixture. This is a stainless steel piece of equipment with a giant mixer in it, and a big heater on the bottom. It allows me to make biodiesel very quickly, and in a fairly automated fashion. Now to make biodiesel you don't need something like this, but we make so much that we like it. Let me tell you just how much we make. You've seen the fuel sitting behind me a minute ago. Last year alone we made 6,800 gallons of fuel that we used in a wide variety of diesel pickups. Anything from an 07 Duramax down to a 93 F350 to the stapid large DT466 with an international harvester engine, and we're running biodiesel in all of those. We have a Ford, Chevy, and a Dodge that we run it in so we've got it all across the gammit.

We know about what it's going to do. We're in Utah here and we are cold outside and in the winters we are starting to blend. We make primarily our biodiesel from canola oil, canola is wonderful cold flow added diesel properties, so when it gets down to about 50 degrees we start blending. Before that we can pretty much handle it. Some of our diesels are a little bit more sensitive, others aren't. Pretty much if it's a diesel it will handle biodiesel, and handle it really well. That's anything from dump trucks, to big earth movers, to farm equipment, to tiny little TIs. You name it if it's got a diesel engine in it and it's direct injected or indirect injected chances are it will run on biodiesel. Believe it or not, Rudolph Diesel when he made the biodiesel engine his goal was to have an engine that was ubiquitous with all sorts of oils, and biodiesel just happens to be one of those that will run in it.

The DR Performance Diesel Products & Edge Diesel Products are both fully compatible with biodiesel- Nathan Young

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Young

Relax and enjoy

2009-04-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

After spending much energy our minds, we do not have one relaxing moment. I have long not been a problem casino, where we can feel the tension, joy and the last loss. I'll get when we visited Casino online

We can play without having to leave the place we live, because we live online, we can directly do it in real time. Fun also, we will not be too careful situation involved, as is done in house.

the first time difficult to follow, but if had been felt all the more easily and surely we can do according to our wishes. Special Online Casino for usa players more complete and innovative. Do you live and ready to concentrate time, Do it

Cellulosic Ethanol - An Advanced Ethanol Fuel That Could Be the Answer to Our Global Energy Needs

2009-04-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

We live in a society that has made it easy for us to develop very bad energy consumption habits. We have been spoiled over the last 50 years because of the fact that oil from fossil fuels is a very rich energy source, but the problem is that it is not a renewable energy source and therefore it will run out one day in the near future. We got a little glimpse of what a shortage of oil can do to us as a nation last summer when gasoline prices went over $4.50 a gallon. Now this was just a temporary shortage. Imagine what will happen when we are close to using up the global oil supply. President Obama, has started to earmark millions of dollars towards research on alternative energies . In this article we will take a look at some alternative energies that continue to show promise.

Ethanol is a pretty good alternative energy fuel source and it is already being used in a few foreign countries. Brazil for example, powers most of the vehicles in its country of ethanol fuel and while it is a very green energy since it is made from corn and other farm sugars it can really exhaust the global food supply really fast if we do not have ways to manufacture it on a large scale. There must be another alternative fuel source which is readily available that we really don't depend on as our main food sustenance.

Cellulosic ethanol is one of the most exciting advanced ethanol fuel sources that is being talked about globally and it is one that can potentially solve our future energy crisis. Cellulosic ethanol is an advanced type of biofuel that is made from the different parts of plants and trees that are not edible.cellulosic ethanol is made mainly from Lignocellulose, which makes up almost all of the mass of vegetation and it is mainly made up of three different types of cellulose. Woodchips are an example of material that can be used to make cellulosic ethanol, and it can be found all around us in abundance. When we cut our lawn and trimming trees with chips or byproduct of this, so instead of throwing these woodchips away we can use them in the future to create cellulosic ethanol. Another great benefit of this type of fuel is that it has been proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional gasoline fuel, and this is something that regular ethanol fuel cannot even come close to matching.

The only drawback to this alternative fuel is that it takes a lot more processing to get it to the end result of becoming an actual fuel source. If our government really get serious about this and pours in billions of dollars into this research they cut down the processing steps which will enable us to make this a readily available global alternative fuel. Let's hope the Obama administration lives up to its promise of funding these alternative fuel sources.

I love writing about alternative fuel sources such as Biofuel. You can read about the newest advances in biofuels at http://www.biofuelguide.net which is updated regularly with the newest, most exciting biofuel technologies coming out.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Randooke

Biogas and Biomethane Gains Wider Acceptance

2009-04-12T08:55:00.001-07:00

Biogas is a wonderfully flexible and renewable form of energy and it can be used as a building block to make not only a wide variety of liquid fuels, but also organic chemicals and even plastics.

The biogas digestion (anaerobic digestion) process can be installed and run at the household level with simple training and support, and it can also be developed in huge projects to anaerobic make community and district anaerobic digestion plants. These can take up to 100,000 tons per year of organic waste and create methane from it. When the methane produced is cleaned and compressed it is called biomethane, and can be pumped into the district grids which nowadays deliver us natural gas from fossil fuels.

A household biogas plant consists of a tank (at its simplest just an underground brick pit) where manure (human sanitary waste) and other organic materials are mixed with water and allowed to ferment.

A farm biogas plant does the same but in a larger reactor and usually takes the farm animal slurries, but can also in some Scandinavian plants also use silage. The silage is stored for use to feed farm biogas plants during the long cold winters, when other feed organic feed materials may be in short supply. The farm anaerobic digestion (AD) plant can in this way strengthen the ability of farm businesses to withstand bad weather and poor years when crops are poor, and its adoption in large numbers will therefore improve the resilience of the agricultural sector.

Let us not forget either that greater biogas production and the use of it will result in a reduction in greenhouse emissions and sizeable plants can make reductions of the order of 50,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalents annually.

An AD plant always contains two main components: a digester (or fermentation tank) and a gas holder. The digester in the most common types of plant is a rectangular-shaped or cylindrical leakproof vessel with an inlet into which the fermentable mixture is introduced in the form of a liquid slurry.

China is an example of a nation where the government has introduced a biogas program. More and more governments are realizing that biogas production brings benefits not only the ecological system, but it also benefits rural populations. India and Nepal are also well known for their digesters.

The benefits are many and include it being an alternative energy source, methane is very useful for cooking, improving rural sanitation, reducing firewood consumption, relieving the rural women's burden, providing a liquid fertilizer for the fields, and proving a sludge which can improve soil quality, plus more. What is more, each farmer my be able to obtain a cash income from this as well.

The actual results of bio-gas programmes have shown these real benefits improving rural life in so many ways.

In one example the biogas digester attached to toilets provides cooking gas for a 600-student school and vocational-training program the foundation runs. In the past, non-governmental organizations were the only ones offering these ideas but that is rapidly changing as the good word gets around.

After the fermentation has been completed in an AD plant, the biogas leaves from the top of the digester at a low pressure, sufficient to overcome the losses provide enough pressure to push the gas through a gas burner, and similarly through some power generation motors, without any compressor to raise pressure.

The countries in Europe are now beginning to sit up and take stock of successes in China and other nations, and are introducing new legislation to encourage the uptake of AD technology. These laws will be explained and discussed extensively at both the plenary sessions and in the workshops in a surprisingly large number of conferences this year.

Steve Last is an anaerobic digestion expert, and web master. You will find much more about this fascinating subject at his Biogas Digester web site. But for a simple Biogas Calculator follow the link earlier in this sentence.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Last

A More Fuel-Like Biofuel - Producing Biofuels That Actually Resemble Gasoline

2009-04-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

The offspring of Jay Keasling's synthetic biology research and vision, Emeryville, CA-based Amyris Biotechnologies has made a double impact. First, the company, with more than $40 million of backing from the Bill Gates' Institute for One World Health charity, developed a microbial route to the anti-malarial compound artemisinin. In and of itself this work was a stunningly successful scientific achievement, and the resulting process has been licensed to Sanofi-Aventis for low-cost manufacturing and distribution in the third world.

But how does that relate to biofuels? Well, producing the anti-malarial drug relied on the engineering of a metabolic pathway to produce a key intermediate that is in the class of chemicals called terpenes. Chemically, terpenes are hydrocarbons, similar to diesel or gasoline, and are therefore very good fuel compounds. Thus, the same basic science that led to artemisinin can be applied, with appropriate tweaking, to produce fuels based on terpenes. And according to the company, a desired fuel compound can be selected based on its properties (flash point, cloud point, boiling point, density, fuel value, etc), and then the pathway to produce it can be designed. Voila! You have a designer fuel. And being hydrocarbons with properties similar to gasoline, terpenes do not suffer from the limitations that alcohols (particularly ethanol) have as fuels. If you want to put something into your gas tank or jet engine, a designer hydrocarbon is likely to be superior to any alcohol. At least that is what Amyris argues.

Amyris has the backing of a well-heeled group of VCs: Kleiner Perkins, TPG Biotech, and DAG Ventures. In the area of bio-based production of gasoline-like fuels, Amyris is at the head of the class. Economics remain to be proven, but Amyris has formed a joint venture with the second largest Brazilian sugar producer, Crystalsev, to get access to inexpensive sugar feedstock, and the first demonstration plant is scheduled to be built right on the sugar plantation in Brazil by 2010. It will produce a biodiesel (with the interesting name of "No CompromiseTM"), currently being piloted at Amyris' Emerville facility. Amyris promises that a bio-gasoline and a bio-aviation fuel are not far behind. If any company can make terpene-based fuels successfully, Amyris appears to be that company.

David Rozzell maintains a web site and blog dedicated to the latest developments and news in biofuels, biocatalysis, and industrial biotechnology. For informative, sometimes amusing, always opinionated analysis go to http://www.bio-catalyst.com He has 25 years of experience in biocatalysis and industrial biotechnology, and speaks frequently at international symposia. He is available for consulting projects. Contact him at david@bio-catalyst.com.

Singapore Firm to Put $100m Into Jatropha

2009-03-16T15:38:00.001-07:00

Singapore-based Mother Earth Plantations Pte. Ltd., through its Indonesian subsidiary PT Buana Ibunda, will invest $100 million to develop jatropha plantations and a refinery in West Timor, East Nusa Tenggara Province, which it says will be able to produce up to 21 million barrels of biodiesel a year by 2013.

Speaking on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 5th World Islamic Economic Forum in Jakarta, Roland A. Jansen, Mother Earth’s president, said the investment would take place over four years, and include the construction of a refinery with a processing capacity of 100,000 tons of jatropha seeds per annum by the end of this year.

Jansen said the company would eventually be able to produce some 3 million tons of Jatropha curcas seeds on the marginal land in Kupang that is to be planted as part of the project.

Jatropha curcas, known locally as jarak pagar , is an inedible oil crop primarily used to produce biodiesel. It is estimated that Indonesia has the capacity to produce 2.9 million kiloliters of biodiesel a year and 215,000 kiloliters of bioethanol per year.

However, Paulus Tjakrawan, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association, or Aprobi, said he was no longer so sure about the potential of jatropha-based biofuel, saying it was now unattractive to buyers. Biofuel producers have repeatedly complained that they suffer losses of an average of Rp 610 a liter on sales of biodiesel and bioethanol to Pertamina as the prices are set based on the crude oil price, which collapsed last year.

The government started pushing jatropha oil as an alternative energy source four years ago, with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issuing a decree on the subject in 2006. Under the scheme, three state firms were to buy the jatropha seeds for processing from farmers, who were encouraged to set aside vast areas for growing the feedstock. But the companies never did make the anticipated purchases, mainly because they had their own jatropha plantations, the output of which already exceeded the production capacity of the existing refineries. The jatropha project has now ground to a halt, although the government has yet to admit as much.

The energy mix is currently dominated by petroleum, accounting for 51.6 percent of the energy consumed in Indonesia. This information from here

What is Ethanol?

2009-03-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane motor fuel that is produced from renewable sources. At its most basic, ethanol is grain alcohol, produced from crops such as corn. Because it is domestically produced, ethanol helps reduce America's dependence upon foreign sources of energy.

Unblended 100% ethanol is not used as a motor fuel; instead, a percentage of ethanol is combined with unleaded gasoline. The most common blends are:

E10 - 10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline
E10 is approved for use in any make or model of vehicle sold in the U.S. Many automakers recommend its use because of its high performance, clean-burning characteristics. Today about 70% of America's gasoline contained some ethanol, most as this E10 blend.

E85 - 85% ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline
E85 is an alternative fuel for use in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). There are currently more than 6 million FFVs on America's roads today, and automakers are rolling out more each year. In conjunction with more flexible fuel vehicles, more E85 pumps are being installed across the country. When E85 is not avaialble, these FFVs can operate on straight gasoline or any ethanol blend up to 85%.

It is important to note that it does not take a special vehicle to run on "ethanol". All vehicles are "ethanol vehicles" and can use up to 10% ethanol with no modifications to the engine. Often people confuse E85 for "ethanol", believing incorrectly that not all vehicles are ethanol-compatible.

Mid-range blends of ethanol: between E10 and E85
ACE is leading efforts to attend to any technical or regulatory hurdles to using ethanol blends above 10%, such as E20, E30, or E40. If these higher percentages of ethanol could be used in standard automobiles, the U.S. could use a dramatically higher amount of renewable fuel, thus significantly decreasing our dependence on petroleum.

Ethanol Industry

2009-03-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

Ethanol is a high octane, clean burning, American-made renewable fuel. Its production and use offer a myriad of benefits to the United States and its citizens.
The production of ethanol is an economic engine for the United States, adding value to U.S. agricultural products and bringing billions of dollars to the nation's economy each year. The use of ethanol reduces harmful auto emissions, offers consumers a cost-effective choice at the pump, and decreases the amount of expensive crude oil needed to satisfy the nation's thirst for transportation fuel.
Ethanol is produced at more than 175 facilities across the nation and blended in to unleaded gasoline in varying percentages. Ethanol is most commonly retailed as E10, the blend of 10 percent ethanol (90% gasoline) for use in all automobiles. Increasingly, ethanol is also available as E85, the 85 percent ethanol blend for use in Flexible Fuel Vehicles. Study is being done on allowing the use of blends beyond 10 percent in standard automobiles

consider elements of education

2009-03-07T01:49:00.000-08:00

After entering the global crisis that began in October 2008, the start feel some impact of this month, where many start Reduction of labor, savings perusahaaan, stimulus from the government and many more. At the time this is important once we consider how the development of children when a crisis occurs. We may not let them play not only because we have little or no money.

To buy a game at least we have to consider elements of education, if feasible consumed our children. Also need to be selected again is a competitive price. Education requirements game is a game to get things interesting for our children. With the games that will be more effective to make our children happy and more happy with the game. So what we gave them one game at the best education

Energy, biotechnology and Agribusiness SG Veterans Form Biofuels Development Jatropha as a low cost, Oil Development

2009-02-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

Energy, biotechnology and Agribusiness SG Veterans Form Biofuels Development Jatropha as a low cost, Oil Development

SG Biofuels library assembles the genetic material of Jatropha

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 2 / PRNewswire / - After three years of research, a team of energy, biotechnology and agribusiness veterans today announced the formation of SG Biofuels, a San Diego, CA-based plant oil companies that specialize in the development of Jatropha as a low cost, which produced sustainable source of oil.

Kirk Haney, President and Chief Executive Officer, the company introduced at the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in San Francisco, CA, where he was a feature speaker on Jatropha.

"We switch from Jatropha opportunities become a reality with a world-class team of scientists and geneticists, depth of resources and expertise in Latin America and agribusiness committed to sustainable production," said Haney.

SG Biofuels' scientific team, led by Dr. Robert Schmidt, PhD., Combining more than 100 years of experience in plant molecular genetics and biotechnology, and includes three members of the National Academy of Sciences. The Company has assembled the largest and most diverse library of Jatropha genetic material in the world, providing the opportunity to develop the most productive type of Jatropha.

Jatropha curcas is a non-edible shrub is native to Central America. High number of seeds which contain oil that can be used for a variety of bio-based feedstock materials, including biodiesel and Petrochemical substitutes for fuel and aviation industry. Can be developed effectively left on the ground that are not suitable for other crops.

Jatropha oil produced by SG Biofuels have been independently evaluated for the quality of biodiesel and verified to be clean, stable source for biodiesel fuel that meets or exceeds strict European specification. Latin American companies Jatropha done recently out palm, soya and Jatropha from India in differentiating the two criteria: low-temperature performance and long-term storage stability.

Biofuels SG team that includes veteran Georges Daou business as Chairman and Chief Business Development Officer. Daou founded Daou Systems, Inc., and for 10 years and has led some to invest in start-up and the capital invested in business enterprises. Its advisory council includes Edgar Masri, former CEO of 3COM Corporation, swamp George, a former general manager for Kellogg Brown & Root in Saudi Arabia, and Herb Sostek, former President and CEO of Gibbs Oil Company.

Green Gold Energies (Symbol: GRYE) Opens Its First Jatropha Biodiesel Oil Refinery Marketwire

2009-02-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

Green Gold Ray Energies, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: GRYE) -- "Fueling the Future" -- announced today that its biodiesel refinery in Nasipit Port, Agusan del Norte will be opened in the next 90 days. Below is the perspective view of the GRYE Processing & Refinery Plant capable of producing about 180 million gallons per year or 680,400,000 liters per year.

The Research and Development Team of Green Gold Ray Energies has designed a unique biodiesel processing and refining technology that fits best to the Jatropha oil market requirements. The plant is designed to produce high biodiesel oil quality, based on fast enhanced growth, cultivation period, increased production efficiency, reliability and better productivity.

CEO Manolo Tecson said that he expects to see a greater increase in revenue now that they are initiating towards the full capacity of Green Gold Ray Energies. "Green Gold is responding to the global economic program of immediate creation and development of clean alternative energy production! We are very excited to see this first stage of growth come to pass, so we can finally fulfill and contribute to the local and global demands of biodiesel fuels, thus servicing our clients' inquiries and requests, while we get to the completion of our Website www.GreenGoldEnergies.com."

To date the Philippine government has legalized into law the Republic Act 9367, known as the Biofuel Act of 2006, which encourages the public to consume alternative fuels and strives for the gradual phase out of the use of damaging gasoline additives. The Act seeks to implement that all oil companies retail only liquid fuel that contains at least 5% bioethanol by total annual volume within the next two years from the effective date of the Biofuel Act and a minimum of 10% blend of ethanol by volume within four years.

A minimum of 1% by volume shall be blended into all diesel engine fuels within 3 months from the effective date of the Act and will increase to 2% in the next 2 years. The Philippines is in need of 150 million liters of bio diesel per year and is expected to double in the next 5 years.

CEO Tecson adds, "There is only one existing biofuel company here in the country, Chemrez Phil., with only 60 million liters production per year, not enough for the country's bio fuel demand and Chemrez is using coconut oil as feed stock. Food-fuel competition will be their future problem."

Jatropha oil is inedible oil, not fit for human consumption, so by using Jatropha as feed stock, Green Gold Ray Energies is exempted from the "Food for Fuel Controversy." This information from here

obama presidential inauguration

2009-01-19T23:21:00.000-08:00

so this day is a day the most awaited by the entire world. days in which American unions inaugurate a new president. President of color to lead the first time that these countries adidaya.
who want to see the direct reach hundreds of thousands of broadcast and overlooks the world to the whole world know what changes will occur.

focus on U.S. economic growth in the union will be expected by the population of the world. With the right policies that will change the meaning.

buy drugs online

2009-01-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

activities will be busy every day cause we do not enough time to find the pharmacy / drug seller of cheap and secure. but now with the Canadian Online Pharmacy, we can order the medicine and will be available quickly with guaranteed quality and cheap.

subscribe to Canada Pharmacy will be the health needs we will be more secure and more comfortable life will understand without a headache. Many also will offer the purchase of drugs online, but the experience of all. For Online pharmacy and more experienced and best service

How to live more healthy and strong

2009-01-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

One of the desire of all people are healthy and do not want to be sick all activities can be executed, but for many problems will arise when our health is not kept. In addition, should take the time, to maintain health activities should be done with the routine and not too excessive

By using the equipment / engine that can maintain our health, and later can be done routinely. This equipment can be placed in the home and does not take a lot of places, we can manage themselves. Special way to run a practice or run a small can use this new engine. The need to find at least 10,000 steps each day to healthy calcium in body we remain awake.

we can see why people keep quality health care with it directly to the home. One way to use the equipment Smooth Fitness

Crude oil prices decline again

2009-01-12T22:25:00.000-08:00

Crude oil prices decline again, the middle east War resulted in oil prices rise again a few weekends ago, but now oil prices back down due to its stable of crude oil producers in some countries. Moreover, Iran is the latest to reduce the quota of more than 1 million barrels. whether there is more news that can make the price of crude oil bounced back? We see only

Make you better

2009-01-10T05:14:00.000-08:00

Making life more comfortable, with a disease that affects the very difficult but there are also providing free consultation Medtronic Sprint Fidelis consultation, contact Medtronic Recall Lawyer, experienced defective medical device or Defective Defibrillator Leads attorneys today.
With the use of Defibrillators are used to manage people who heartbeat. The device can sense the abnormal heart rhythm and deliver electronic shock to reset the heart beat to normal. If you have a sweetheart or debibrillator implanted using Defibrillator Lead Recall, you may have valuable rights. Why not try ..

Remove the UN resolution, Israel-Palestine War does not stop

2009-01-09T14:24:00.000-08:00

Gaza - the resolution the United Nations (UN) for the cease-fire appeared to be no Israel-Palestine. The way the war was on.

War still continues to Friday 8 January 2009, after the UN resolution out, such as dilansir from voanews.com, Saturday (9/1/2009). In fact, the war was still ongoing at the time usually stop Israel attacks for three hours. Thick smoke to rise above Gaza City, Israeli helicopters also passed a thatch on top of it.

Even seen fierce battle of north east Gaza, which borders Israel. Hamas-missile missile Israel continues to rain, after two weekends reinforce Israel aggression

While the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland submit independent investigation of the possibility of war crimes in Israel aggression

live more healthy

2009-01-02T00:18:00.001-08:00

I live healthy, we should eat and drink in accordance with the regulations of both sufficient protein, minerals and vitamins needed by the body. Do you want to prepare it all? Time and you may need a little more cost, green energy drink can help you solve your problems are. Green energy 100% natural, contain elements that are not dangerous. Your health will be more secure.

Joe Dillon motivation tapes containing the latest research on nutrition, exercise, and the core of death. He discusses the benefits of water protein isolate. The key to optimal health revealed in simple, and you can listen while you relax.

one product that can help increase your energy is whey protein isolate vanilla, in addition to burning fat is the body we also causes the secretion of energy that is more stable.

Smart investment

2009-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

in investment is needed on how to get more results. Return Of Investment (ROI) views carefully, and it is the castor oil on the fence still have a very low ROI. The cost of harvesting oil fences that distance can be harvested every day is very large. Not only can be harvested within a week.

Cloves can be harvested 1 day (exact time of harvest) and good results are still young or old can all have been sold. Meanwhile, castor oil fence that young can not be used. This is why the big harvest costs (salaries of workers) because they can not harvest it.

save expenditure with central ring

2008-12-30T23:22:00.000-08:00

The developed technology that facilitate communication, especially in the running of our business. It also more efficient and ultimately can help us become more comfortable and a lot of money. With many offers communications equipment is causing us to be confused to choose which.

Did you ever hear of communications tools such as Ringcentral? Offering phone service with low cost and very beneficial for small business. Without the recipient must have the phone (the company's expense) to act as ring central set all calls and fax that came to office.

We can try to calculate the expenditures / costs must be borne by the ring central with the other product. And many packages offered ring central review so that we can use as needed.

also have innovative features that you can expect that will help us, both as small businesses, and large-scale business.

Last year attacks

2008-12-30T06:03:00.000-08:00

world price crude oil down to the lowest point as 5 years ago, and suddenly attacked the Palestinians, only Israel, automatic security middle east subject ... also result in the price of crude oil. Investors fear of something happening in the bay of the world's largest oil.

We should all be very dependent with crude oil. one of the castor oil fence. Yaa. correct, in accordance with the title of this blog .... with castor oil fence is low cost and can be updated all the problems will be resolved. Developing countries can develop this product. In addition to maintenance is also very easy to have a high economic value

the life of the elderly

2008-12-23T23:04:00.001-08:00

The more advanced a country we can see growth in the number of older people. Because of health, safety and security of life with either can not extend life expectancy. Because the welfare of the guaranteed death rate decreases and increased age is not productive.

But what for them is that this is old? if left at home or placed in the house? With medical alarm can be overcame. Medical alarm try to give a solution for children - the grandson of a busy working and less time to oversee the parents (grandmother or grandfather) for them. for those who still want to meet the grandparents / parents of medical alarm all the problems can be overcome. No need to check decrepit house

Meeting of the OPEC Conference

2008-12-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

OPEC's 151st (Extraordinary) Meeting ends in Oran, Algeria (17 December 2008)Opening address to the 151st (Extraordinary) Meeting of the OPEC Conference (Oran, Algeria, 17 December 2008)OPEC's 150th (Extraordinary) Meeting ends in Vienna, Austria (24 October 2008)

The 151st (Extraordinary) Meeting of the Conference of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) convened in Oran, Algeria, on 17 December 2008, under the Chairmanship of its President, HE Dr Chakib Khelil, Minister of Energy and Mines of Algeria and Head of its Delegation, and its Alternate President, HE Eng José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos, Minister of Petroleum of Angola and Head of its Delegation.

The Conference welcomed the Minister of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Minister of Oil and Gas of the Sultanate of Oman, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, and the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Syrian Arab Republic, attending the Meeting as Observers.

The Conference considered the report of the Ministerial Monitoring Sub-Committee, whose Members the Conference once again thanked for their continuing and much-appreciated efforts on behalf of the Organization, as well as a submission from the Secretary General on oil market developments.

Having reviewed the oil market outlook, including overall demand/supply projections for the year 2009, in particular the first and second quarters, the Conference observed that crude volumes entering the market remain well in excess of actual demand: this is clearly demonstrated by the fact that crude stocks in OECD countries are well above their five-year average and are expected to continue to rise. Moreover, the impact of the grave global economic downturn has led to a destruction of demand, resulting in unprecedented downward pressure being exerted on prices, which have fallen by more than US $90 a barrel since early July 2008. Indeed, the Conference noted that, if unchecked, prices could fall to levels which would place at jeopardy the investments required to guarantee adequate energy supplies in the medium-to-long term.

In light of the above, the Conference agreed to cut 4.2 million barrels a day from the actual September 2008 OPEC-11 production of 29.045 mb/d, with effect from 1 January 2009, with Member Countries strongly emphasizing their firm commitment to ensuring that their production is reduced by the individually agreed amounts.

In taking the above decision, Heads of Delegation reiterated the Organization’s firm commitment to providing an economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations, as well as to stabilizing the market and realizing OPEC’s objective of maintaining crude oil prices at fair and equitable levels, for the future well-being of the market and the good of producers and consumers alike. With this in mind, the Conference renewed its call on non-OPEC producers/exporters to cooperate with the Organization to support oil market stabilization.

The Conference confirmed that its next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Sunday, 15 March 2009, in Vienna, Austria, shortly before the OPEC International Seminar, which is to take place at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, on 18 and 19 March 2009.

The Conference approved the Budget of the Organization for the year 2009.

The Conference expressed its sincere gratitude to His Excellency Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the President of the Republic, the Government and the People of Algeria for the warm hospitality extended to the Conference participants and for the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting. In addition, the Conference recorded its special thanks to HE Dr Khelil, Minister of Energy and Mines, and his Staff for their warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting.

The Conference also expressed its thanks to the 2008 President of the Conference, HE Dr Khelil, for his excellent leadership, and welcomed the 2009 President, HE Eng Botelho de Vasconcelos.

Finally, the Conference passed Resolutions that will be published on 17 January 2009, after ratification by Member Countries.

Air pollution

2008-12-19T16:59:00.000-08:00

Since the diesel engine was found and used by the industry, the air pollution occurs. Motor vehicles also increase air pollution. See it in developing countries such as India, Indonesia, Thailand and even China. State all advanced to the rate set by their government policies.

What is disrupted when air pollution surge? One of our skin. Air pollution causes skin damage, especially our easy diwajah us, especially if we wear a motorcycle and often around the city. Would be felt or seen, how dirty we face. But with the pollution that is reasonable when we treat our skin of the face.

Caring is an obligation of the face, especially women and Murad Acne can choose as an option, other than to avoid the danger of air pollution, we face will look more beautiful and more when more fresh and will not arise acne complex. But also must be careful in choosing a brand of care face. Later stored a lot of fraud that we face even harmful. So set your options with the good (such as Murad Acne complex) and true to all our body's danger from skin damage.

The price of world crude oil

2008-12-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

The price of world crude oil declined sharply, under the U $ 44 D. Do we do not continue to alternative energy again? I do not .. because if we only use crude oil as a source of energy the next 50 years will occur missing / out of this crude oil.
Why can out ... because we can not update again. Only one solution that is still consistent in the implementation of the development of alternative energy. Castor oil is energy that is possible to be developed. Due to processing equipment that is expensive and rarely have made it difficult to develop.
Need attention from the local government to run the ideas that are good and more efficient

natural beauty

2008-12-03T01:56:00.000-08:00

What the men folk groove when they see women? Certainly the natural beauty of their value first. Because all starts from there.

Caring face, it is very important for women. Due to the look of the face is visible. Caring face with that of natural cosmetics and beauty generate a natural desire for women.

How to choose the correct cosmetics and proven results? Ask the store or already have already famous. Because they give the best advice. Want to try to find information about women's beauty equipment, visit this place.

Healthy Heart for Better Life

2008-11-02T21:54:00.000-08:00

Healthy is the most important and also the most expensive that cannot bought by money. Due to that, we must keep our healthy well in order to get the best condition and make sure that everything is on the right track. But, we also cannot avoid for something bad to us if we are attacked by any disease, injuries and many else. For the best way we can take as the easiest and safest way just by cure it through something so good.
If you cannot consider, what and where is the best place that can give you service for your health, you can see a site then. This site offers you both for educational and the place where you can get the best services of doing such kind of heart bypass surgery, coronary bypass surgery, even for coronary artery bypass surgery. That is all about the heart problem. The site will show you the place where you can get all of those things easily. Just make sure to browse for that site in order to get the best condition of something so disturbing you then.

Save Energy

2008-10-24T02:32:00.000-07:00

Because the financial impact of the media in various countries, the visible energy savings in large-scale. Consumptive lifestyle starts left.
How do the people who already have a lifestyle that is not healthy? With skimpy can reduce the body's resistance, especially when they have to like (fat). with the acai berry juice taste will want to continue to eat terkurangi so that the body healthy. What was to try them?

Pound for Pound, All Life Uses Same Amount of Energy

2008-10-16T01:45:00.000-07:00

If energy is the currency of life, biologists are closing in on the cost of living.
No matter whether you're talking elephants or bacteria, a new study proposes that, pound for pound, all living things' at-rest metabolisms use similar amounts of energy. Though living things vary greatly in complexity and size, their energy usage falls between 3 and 90 watts per kilogram of biomass. For comparison, a MacBook Pro is supposed to draw about 12 watts when operating from its battery.
"Our interpretation is that there aren't very many accidents in nature, so it's not just a coincidence that all these different organisms fall within this narrow window," said Peter Reich, an ecologist at the University of Minnesota, and a co-author of the work. "That suggests that natural selection selects for this range."
Using energy to stave off entropy is one of the basic functions of life. Different forms of life use different energy sources. Plants use photosynthesis to turn sunlight into chemical energy. Other organisms feed on plants or other organisms to obtain the energy needed to sustain themselves. The new paper suggests that no matter how an organism gets its energy, the basic biochemistry of life requires that all organisms' cells use energy at fairly similar rates.
The new work means that if you had an elephant-sized mound of bacteria, it would use, within about an order of magnitude of variation, the same amount of energy as an actual elephant. This information from here

New Gene Found That Helps Plants Beat The Heat

2008-10-16T01:40:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2008) — Michigan State University plant scientists have discovered another piece of the genetic puzzle that controls how plants respond to high temperatures. That may allow plant breeders to create new varieties of crops that flourish in warmer, drier climates.
Heat shock protein
The MSU researchers found that the gene bZIP28 helps regulate heat stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana, a member of the mustard family used as a model plant for genetic studies. This is the first time bZIP28 has been shown to play a role heat tolerance. The research is published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We also found that bZIP28 was responding to signals from the endoplasmic reticulum, which is the first time the ER has been shown to be involved with the response to heat," said Robert Larkin, MSU assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and corresponding author of the paper. "We're finding that heat tolerance is a more complex process than was first thought."
Previous research has shown that the nucleus, the "brain" of the cell, and cytosol, the fluid inside cells, play a role in how plants respond to heat. The endoplasmic reticulum, a membrane in the cell that consists of small tubes and sac-like structures, is mainly responsible for packaging and storing proteins in the cell.
According to Christoph Benning, MSU professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and a member of the research team, the scientists were looking for genes that turn other genes on and off and are tied to cell membranes. These membrane-tethered gene switches are seen in animals but hadn't been studied in great detail in plants.
"The bZIP28 protein is anchored in the endoplasmic reticulum, away from its place of action," Benning explained. "But when the plant is stressed by heat, one end of bZIP28 is cut off and moves into the nucleus of the cell where it can turn on other genes to control the heat response. Understanding how the whole mechanism works will be the subject of more research."
Plants with an inactive bZIP28 gene die as soon as temperatures reach a certain level.
Other scientists on the research team are Federica Brandizzi, MSU associate professor of plant biology and member of the Plant Research Lab, and Hangbo Gao, former MSU post-doctoral research associate.
The work was sponsored by the MSU-DOE Plant Research Lab. Benning's research also is supported by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.
this information from here

OIL

2008-06-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

in a few day alternative energy very needed by around people on the world. A poor country or country haven't product oil this a big problem. So must be solution for this situation. A country have oil must be give advantage from advantage. Balance of money make conditon more happy.

Energy alternative

2008-05-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

The price of rocketing petroleum so is to 125 U$D has can no longer be degraded. Global economics crisis will menace... especially nations grows and poor. Energy alternative of becoming one of purpose of as well as the price go up results food material productivity annoyed.

Fence castor oil is a real alternative energy it is good to is developed, beside will not influence the price of staple also way of menanamya easy. different with corn, soy, ketela and other which is material can in consumption by man.

So focus to fence castor oil

Oil-yielding

2008-04-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Witness the latest entry in the high-stakes race for alternative sources of fuel: a tree that produces oil.

Not petroleum, that is, but an oil that can be used to make biodiesel.

Taylor Jones/The Post

Jatropha curcas

Jatropha curcas: The energy tree

Origin: Native to Central America. There are 87 known varieties in Florida.

HEIGHT: UP TO 20 FEET.

OIL YIELD:AS MUCH AS 600 TO 1,000 GALLONS PER ACRE A YEAR. GROWN FOR BIOFUELS IN COUNTRIES INCLUDING GHANA, BRAZIL AND GUATEMALA.

And entrepreneurs see it as a future cash crop for Florida.

"Last year, soy oil was $1.50 a gallon and nobody was looking at us. Now, it's $3 a gallon and everyone is looking" at jatropha as a future biofuel source, said Paul Dalton, a Washington-based attorney who is involved with growing the tree - Jatropha curcas - in Florida, India and elsewhere.

Oil from this variety of jatropha has attracted more attention as prices for other biodiesel oils such as soy, palm and canola have skyrocketed.

Dalton, chief executive officer of Alexandria, Va.-based My Dream Fuel LLC, has planted 1.26 million jatropha seedlings from varieties specially selected and cloned for commercialization on 12 acres south of LaBelle. Last year, he sold out of 12,000 plants in four days.

Beginning May 15, this year's seedlings will go out to citrus growers looking for a replacement for groves ravaged by canker and greening diseases and others wanting to keep their agricultural exemption.

"It is not a get-rich-quick scheme at all," Dalton said. "It's five years before they get to 100 percent production. In two years, they will start making money. That is a lot faster than citrus.

"Any biodiesel refiner will purchase it in a heartbeat. At current price levels, growers will make over $2,000 an acre."

This information an the picture from here

Jatropha - a biofuel crop

2008-03-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

The biofuel output of respective crops has been measured, and is normally given in barrels of oil per angular mile per year. Corn is a popular biofuel harvest in the USA, but it yields under 200 barrels (per angular mile per year. Rice for instance yields nearly 1000 barrels, however it is a vital global nutrient harvest as are most of the new prospective biofuel crops. It is merely not workable to take better character arable farmland for growing biofuels, biofuel crops need to be grown on minimal soil if we are to gain from them. This is where Jatropha scores extremely. Not simply does it get a good output of easily over 2,000 barrels of oil per angular mile per year, it too increases the birthrate of the soil on which it is grown then that it can possibly be used for nutrient crops in consequent years.

Jatropha is perennial which can grow in arid conditions (even deserts), on any kind of ground, and does not require irrigation or suffer in droughts. Therefore unlike the common biofuel crops of today (corn and sugar), they are very easy to cultivate even on poor land in Africa providing great social and economic benefits for that region.

Jatropha is fast growing and it begins yielding oil in the second year and for the next forty to fifty years. Optimal yields are obtained from the sixth year, and spaced at 2 metre intervals, around 2500 plants can be cultivated per hectare. Jatropha absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and therefore earns carbon credits.

Find out more about Jatropha and its use as a biofuel here with our guide to the facts and figures about Jatropha.

Bio Diesel - Jatropha curcas

2008-02-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

31 to 37 % of oil is extracted from a Jatropha seed. Jatropha Curcas seed can be used as Bio diesel for any diesel engine without modification
Selling treated Jatropha seeds, and quality sapling
Dark blue dye and wax can be produced from the bark of the Jatropha curcas plants
Jatropha plant Stem is used as a poor quality wood : Bio fuel
Jatropha curcas leaves helps in dressing the wound.
Jatropha roots help in making yellow dye
Juice of the flowers of Jatropha curcas and the Jatropha stem has very good medicinal properties
Pounded seeds are used in tanning
Press Cake : Jatropha becomes Organic fertilizer and soil improver
Jatropha curcas extracted oil are used as : Bio Diesel, Varnishes, Illuminants, Soap, Pest control and Medicinal for skin diseases, as purgative

If You Know details click here

2007-12-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

Jatropha curcas or Barbados nut or Physic nut is a perennial poisonous shrub (up to 5 m high[1]]) belonging to the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. The plant, originating in Central America, is mainly grown in Asia and in Africa, where it is known as Pourghère. It is resistant to a high degree of aridity and as such does not compete with food crops. When the seeds are crushed, the resulting jatropha oil can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel that can be used in a standard diesel engine.

1 Cultivation
2 Processing
3 Biodiesel potential
4 Other uses
5 Other names
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

2007-12-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

Cultivation

Jatropha curcas seed

Cultivation is uncomplicated. Jatropha curcas can grow in wastelands and grows almost anywhere, even on gravelly, sandy and saline soils. It can thrive on the poorest stony soil and grow in the crevices of rocks. Complete germination is achieved within 9 days. Adding manure during the germination has negative effects during that phase, but is favourable if applied after germination is achieved. However, it is usually multiplied by cuttings, because this gives faster results than multiplication by seeds. The flowers only develop terminally, so a good ramification (plants presenting many branches) produces the greatest amount of fruits. Another productivity factor is the ratio between female and male flowers within an inflorescence (usually about 1 female to 10 male flowers - more female flowers mean more fruits)[2]. Jatropha curcas thrives on a mere 250 mm (10 in) of rain a year, and only during its first two years does it need to be watered in the closing days of the dry season. Ploughing and planting are not needed regularly, as this shrub has a life expectancy of approximately forty years. The use of pesticides and other polluting substances are not necessary, due to the pesticidal and fungicidal properties of the plant.

In the early 1990s, a growth trial in Nicaragua covering 2000 hectares (4940 acres) did not live up to expectations, yielding only a disappointing 200 litres of Jatropha oil per hectare (21 US gallons/acre).[citation needed] However, Jatropha is well able to yield as much as 1900 litres of diester per hectare (200 US gallons/acre), largely exceeding the capacity of rapeseed.[3]

Processing

Seed extraction is made simple with the use of the Universal Nut Sheller, an appropriate technology designed by the Full Belly Project.[4] The oily seeds are processed into oil, which may be directly used to fuel combustion engines or may be subjected to transesterification to produce biodiesel. Jatropha oil is not suitable for human consumption. A colourant can also be derived from the seed.

Biodiesel potential
Main article: Jatropha biodiesel

Other uses

(The information in this section is largely inspired from the Purdue University - Center for New Crops and Plants Products website [5].)
Leaves
The young leaves may be safely eaten, steamed or stewed. Cooked with goat meat, they are said to advantageously counteract its smell.
Pounded leaves are applied near horses' eyes to repel flies in India.
Flowers
The species is listed as a honey plant[6].
Nuts
Sometimes roasted and eaten, although they are purgative.
They can be burned like candlenuts when strung on grass[7].
Used as a contraceptive in South Sudan[8].
Seeds
Also used as a contraceptive in South Sudan[9].
The oil has been used for illumination, soap, candles, the adulteration of olive oil, and making Turkey red oil. Turkey red oil, also called sulphonated (or sulfated) castor oil, is the only oil that completely disperses in water. It is made by adding sulfuric acid to pure Jatropha oil[10]. It was the first synthetic detergent after ordinary Soap, as this allows easy use for making bath oil products. It is used in formulating lubricants, softeners, and dyeing assistants[11].
The seeds in the zone around Misantla, Veracruz are very appreciated by the population as food once they have been boiled and roasted. It is unclear if this is due to the existence of a non-toxic variety of Jatropha in Mexico and Central America, or if the seeds become eatable once processed by cooking[12].
It is also similarly reported that Jatropha seeds are edible once the embryo has been removed[13]. Again it may be so because of these seeds coming from a local non-toxic variety.
Roots
Their ashes are used as a salt substitute[14]. It can be used to kill molluscs[15], and has been listed for homicide, piscicide, and raticide as well[16].
Bark
Used as a fish poison[17].
Latex
Strongly inhibits the watermelon mosaic virus[18].
Sap
It stains linen. Sometimes used for marking[19].
Shrub
Mexicans grow the shrub as a host for the lac insect, which is used in medicine as hepatoprotective and antiobesity drug. (Picture of lac insect here [7]; drawing of insect, its larva and a colony here[8])
Used for erosion control[1], [20]

Other names

Pinhão manso in Brazil
Tempate in Nicaragua
kasla in Philippines
Purging nut

See also
Jatropha
Energy crop
Non food crop

References
^ a b “Jaropha curcas l. in Africa - Assessment of the impact of the dissemination of “the Jatropha System” on the ecology of the rural area and the social and economic situation of the rural population (target group) in selected countries in Africa”[1].
^ "Generative propagation of Jatropha curcas L. on Kalahari Sand." in The Jatropha Journal.
^ Steven Hobbs Bio-diesel, farming for the future
^ - The Full Belly Project
^ Purdue University-Center for New Crops and Plants Products
^ Little, Woodbury, and Wadsworth, 1974. In The Jatropha Website
^ Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962. In The Jatropha Website
^ List and Horhammer, 1969–1979. InThe Jatropha Website
^ List and Horhammer, 1969–1979. In The Jatropha Website
^ [2]
^ CastorOil.in – Home of Castor Oil Online [3]
^ Birgit Schmook (cited by Henning), in “Assessment of the potential of Jatropha curcas, (biodiesel tree) for energy production and other uses in developing countries.” Mike Benge (bengemike at aol dot com), Senior Agroforestry Officer, USAID (Ret.) July 2006 and updated August 2006[4]
^ Levingston and Zamora (cited by IPGRI), in “Assessment of the potential of Jatropha curcas, (biodiesel tree) for energy production and other uses in developing countries.” Mike Benge (bengemike at aol dot com), Senior Agroforestry Officer, USAID (Ret.), July 2006 and updated August 2006. [5]
^ Morton, 1981. In The Jatropha Website
^ Agaceta et al., 1981. In The Jatropha Website
^ Duke and Wain (1981). In The Jatropha Website
^ Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962. In The Jatropha Website
^ Tewari and Shukla, 1982. In The Jatropha Website
^ Mitchell and Rook, 1979. In The Jatropha Website
^ “Jaropha curcas l. in Africa - Assessment of the impact of the dissemination of “the Jatropha System” on the ecology of the rural area and the social and economic situation of the rural population (target group) in selected countries in Africa”[6].

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Jatropha curcas
Suppliers of Jatropha Seeds with International Delivery:
Jatrophaseeds
Jatrophaplantsource
Jatropha Curcas Seed.
Jatropha Curcas Plantation Consulting
Jatropha plantation from 'Soil to Oil'
A Self-help Assistance Program's Jatropha Tree Planting Project
Jatropha Facts and Figures
Jatropha Plant power can solve fuel problem
An Integrated Approach of Rural Development in Tropical & Subtropical Countries.
The worldwide online Jatropha Portal
Forum Jatropha - http://www.jatropha.forumactif.com
Size does matter - The possibilities of cultivating Jatropha curcas for biofuel production in developing countries. Case study report on the relationship with food security. Contains lots of references and background information.
"Mali’s Farmers Discover a Weed’s Potential Power", New York Times, September 9, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Jatropha Curcas
Center of Excellence for Jatropha Biodiesel Promotion
Forum : "Jatropha curcas : l'or vert du désert" - (French)
Bio Fuel production and reduction of deforestation in Nepal by R. Pahari.
Geo magazine, May 2007 edition (in German).
“Jaropha curcas l. in Africa - Assessment of the impact of the dissemination of “the Jatropha System” on the ecology of the rural area and the social and economic situation of the rural population (target group) in selected countries in Africa”. Annexe 7 of this paper presents an “Economic analysis of JCL utilization in Tanzania - Economy of Jatropha Utilization in Tanzania. Data from Kakute, 2003”, covering small-scale economic data on the collection of seeds, oil making and soap making.