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The process of converting vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel is called transesterification and is luckily less complex than it sounds. Chemically, transesterification means taking a triglyceride molecule, or a complex fatty acid, neutralizing the free fatty acids, removing the glycerin, and creating an alcohol ester. This is accomplished by mixing …

Biodiesel production in Europe Not only in the US but also in Europe is biodiesel is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to mineral oil-based fuel. In Europe around 50 manufacturers produce approximately 1.5 million tonnes of biodiesel, with a total capacity of around 2.1 million tonnes Germany is the …

On November 1, 2005 in the African state of Botswana, the Waste Management Act and with the National Waste Management Strategy have been put in place for the promotion of human health, and environmental protection such as water, soil, air and biodiversity. They are also meant for the protection of …

No country has ever experienced as large or as fast an increase in solid waste quantities that China is now facing. China recently surpassed the United States as the world‘‘s largest municipal solid waste (MSW) generator. A study from the World Bank puts this major global power‘‘s waste management system …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that an estimated one million pounds of household hazardous waste (HHW) has been collected in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. HHW typically consists of cleaning products found in most homes as well as lawn and garden products, pesticides …

Climate change is a hot topic these days with the federal government. Canada‘‘s target is to reduce the Greenhouse Gas emissions by 6% below the 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. The parties involved in the Kyoto Protocol met on February 16th 2005 to put the Kyoto Protocol into force. …

A new European Regulation aiming to control waste shipments should enter into force by the beginning of 2007 at the latest. EIS reports that the final version of the report on this draft Regulation, presented by Johannes Blokland (IND/DEM, Netherlands) and adopted by the European Parliament on October 25, includes …

Recycling will be top of the Australian Government‘‘s agenda when Environment Ministers meet in Launceston this Wednesday for the Environment Protection and Heritage Council meeting. Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, said Australia already led the world in recycling products like newsprint, but could do more …

The Task Force concludes that biomass (fuel from forestry, crops and waste) could reduce the nation‘‘s carbon emissions by almost three million tonnes a year if used to provide heating. The carbon saving would be the equivalent of taking 3.25 million cars off the road. The Chairman of the Task …

A report, commissioned by Enhance, on London‘‘s market potential for biodiesel made from used cooking oils (UCO), has been released. The escalating prices of non-renewable fuels, the increasing demand for fuel in general and the effect these fuels have on the climate will coerce the need for biodiesel in London. …