In the search for less polluting and renewable fuel alternatives, vegetable oil has become a great option. This substance is a kind of fat obtained from plants, especially from their seeds. The main raw materials used for production are soy, castor bean, palm oil, sunflower, corn, coconut, linseed, babassu, peanuts, etc.
After physical-chemical processing, vegetable oil can be used as a lubricant, cooking oil, biofuel production, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, among others. Vegetable oils are insoluble in water, however, they are soluble in organic solvents, a fact that provides their use in industries.
Vegetable oil is very common in kitchens, but it can also be used as fuel, being used pure or mixed with petroleum diesel. However, the vehicle engine must be adapted to receive this substance. The positive aspect is that the greater the amount of vegetable oil in the fuel, the lower the emission of polluting gases into the atmosphere.
Don’t stop now… There’s more after the publicity 馃槈
Brazil is developing technology to replace petroleum diesel with palm oil. Experts claim that, after the proper chemical transformations, palm oil can provide excellent quality diesel, in addition to requiring a small area for its cultivation, making the process cheaper.
Despite the various advantages added to the use of vegetable oil as fuel (it emits less pollutants, it is a renewable source, it reduces dependence on oil, etc.), there are several opponents to such an event. The main allegations are that foodstuffs should be used to feed the needy population, in addition to the fact that this process would trigger some environmental problems: soil depletion, erosion, etc.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography