Ok, my mistake. When reading the article this is not shown very clear. But nitrous oxide is N2O and nothing else. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Burck" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 2:30 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Rapeseed Biofuel Produces More Greenhouse Gas ThanOil OrPetrol
jan, the study was focused on NO2 released by soil microbes as the rapeseed crops grow, not on the emissions from burning the fuel. you make an excellent point, though. imo, we should *always* be searching for ways to reduce the impact of the fuels we burn. On 10/3/07, Jan Warnqvist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear all, I would really like to read this study this report in > original,since the article is producing several question marks. > It is well known that the exhaust emissions from fatty acid methyl esters > are producing higher amounts of nitrious gases than petro diesel does , > but > as far as I can remember, the nitrious oxide corresponds only to a tiny > part > of these. It is also well known that that the higher the cetane number of > the biodiesel, the lower the emissions of nitrious gases. From that point > it > is a little bit strange to conclude that the the emissions of nitrious > gases > from rape seed oil biodiesel and maize biodiesel are the same, since the > iodine number of maize oil in general is higher than the corresponding > value > of rape seed oil. This is suggesting in its prolongment that the emissions > of nitrious gases from BD out of rape seed oil should be lower than from > BD > of maize oil. If the article is displaying the facts from the study > correctly, then there are two ways to approach this problem: > 1) Further product development of the fatty acid methyl esters in order to > raise the cetane number to a level where the emissions of nitrious gases > become acceptably lower. > 2) New diesel veichles will be equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation > (EGR) system or an exhaust gas aftertreatment system which will lower the > production of nitrious gases as required in Euro regulations. > Information on the properties of nitrious oxide can be found at > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_oxide No doubt has the information > on > the green house effects from nitrious oxide come from this sight, > No matter if the conclusions from the study are right or not, it still > makes > sense to produce biodiesel, not in the least for forcing the development > to > take another path than previous. You know what I mean. > > Jan Warnqvist > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Olivier Morf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org> > Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 6:40 AM > Subject: [Biofuel] Rapeseed Biofuel Produces More Greenhouse Gas Than Oil > OrPetrol > > > Source: > http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2507851.ece > September 22, 2007 > > Rapeseed Biofuel Produces More Greenhouse Gas Than Oil Or Petrol > > By Lewis Smith > > A renewable energy source designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is > contributing more to global warming than fossil fuels, a study suggests. > > Measurements of emissions from the burning of biofuels derived from > rapeseed > and maize have been found to produce more greenhouse gas emissions than > they > save. > > Other biofuels, especially those likely to see greater use over the next > decade, performed better than fossil fuels but the study raises serious > questions about some of the most commonly produced varieties. > > Rapeseed and maize biodiesels were calculated to produce up to 70 per cent > and 50 per cent more greenhouse gases respectively than fossil fuels. The > concerns were raised over the levels of emissions of nitrous oxide, which > is > 296 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. > Scientists > found that the use of biofuels released twice as much as nitrous oxide as > previously realised. The research team found that 3 to 5 per cent of the > nitrogen in fertiliser was converted and emitted. In contrast, the figure > used by the International Panel on Climate Change, which assesses the > extent > and impact of man-made global warming, was 2 per cent. The findings > illustrated the importance, the researchers said, of ensuring that > measures > designed to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions are assessed thoroughly before > being hailed as a solution. > > ³One wants rational decisions rather than simply jumping on the bandwagon > because superficially something appears to reduce emissions,² said Keith > Smith, a professor at the University of Edinburgh and one of the > researchers. > > Maize for ethanol is the prime crop for biofuel in the US where production > for the industry has recently overtaken the use of the plant as a food. In > Europe the main crop is rapeseed, which accounts for 80 per cent of > biofuel > production. > > Professor Smith told Chemistry World: ³The significance of it is that the > supposed benefits of biofuels are even more disputable than had been > thought > hitherto.² > > It was accepted by the scientists that other factors, such as the use of > fossil fuels to produce fertiliser, have yet to be fully analysed for > their > impact on overall figures. But they concluded that the biofuels ³can > contribute as much or more to global warming by N2 O emissions than > cooling > by fossil-fuel savings². > > The research is published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and > Physics, > where it has been placed for open review. The research team was formed of > scientists from Britain, the US and Germany, and included Professor Paul > Crutzen, who won a Nobel Prize for his work on ozone. > > Dr Franz Conen, of the University of Basel in Switzerland, described the > study as an ³astounding insight². > > ³It is to be hoped that those taking decisions on subsidies and > regulations > will in future take N2O emissions into account and promote some forms of > ¹biofuel¹ production while quickly abandoning others,² he told the > journal¹s > discussion board. > > Dr Dave Reay, of the University of Edinburgh, used the findings to > calculate > that with the US Senate aiming to increase maize ethanol production > sevenfold by 2022, greenhouse gas emissions from transport will rise by 6 > per cent. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 > messages): > http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 > messages): > http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
