Biofuels

Biofuel is a biodegradable, clean-burning alternative fuel made from domestic, renewable resources (plant material and recycled elements of the food chain, such as cow manure). Biofuels can be used, in either pure form or blended with fossil fuels, in diesel-powered vehicles and boats. Biofuel is made through a chemical process called transesterification. This process separates the glycerin from animal fats or vegetable oil, leaving behind two products—methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct used in soaps and other products). One advantage of biofuel in comparison to most other fuel types is that it is biodegradable, and thus relatively harmless to the environment if spilled.