All about Petroleum Diesel

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Diesel (the common term for petro-diesel) is a fractional distillate (Fractional Distillation – from Chem Heritage, How Oil Refining Works – from How Stuff Works, Fractional Distillation Definition – from About.com) of petroleum used as fuel in a diesel engine, a type of Internal Combustion (IC) engine invented by German engineer Rudolf Diesel. Petro Diesel is about 18% denser than gasoline.

Diesel is generally simpler to refine than gasoline and usually costs less. Petro diesel typically releases about 40.9 megajoules (MJ) per liter when burnt, compared to gasoline which releases 34.8 MJ/L.

Petro diesel, however, often contains higher quantities of sulphur than gasoline. High levels of sulfur in diesel are harmful for the environment, hence the use of devices that reduce the amount of sulfur in diesel. However, lowering sulfur also reduces the lubricity of the fuel, thus increasing the need for lubricating additives must be added to petro diesel. (see also: Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions – PDF, The Challenging Chemistry of Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel - PDF)

Petro diesel comprises about 75% saturated hydrocarbons, and 25% aromatic hydrocarbons. (see also: Chemical Properties & Composition of Fuel Oils, CDC.gov – PDF

Did you know? Gasoline and diesel are both derived from crude oil

    • Difference between Diesel & Gasoline Fuels

Fun Facts - Gasoline and diesel were both largely waste products, largely unused until the invention of the internal combustion engine!

Other References

Some interesting sites:

  • Plant Oils Database – provides resources and links for over 200 different plant oils and related plant extracts

  • BDPedia – The Biodiesel WWW Encyclopedia

Agriculture Directories

BDPedia.com, the Biodiesel WWW Encyclopedia, provides links, provides directory and web links resources for the biofuels, biodiesel. It is intended to be useful for research and information as well as for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters and importers. It will make an effort to provide biofuel feedstock, plant oil feedstocks, vegetable oil info and link, details on oilseeds, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, bio-fuels, plant oils production and uses, and biofuels trade & market resources, data, statistics such as price, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

GeoDig – Get Local!

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