What renewable fuel for vehicles is made from vegetable oils and fats and emits few pollutants?

• A. Biodiesel
• B. Ethanol
• C. Methanol
• D. Gasoline

Answer: (A)

Biodiesel is the renewable vehicle fuel made from vegetable oils and fats. It’s produced by transforming fats/oils through a process called transesterification into fatty acid methyl esters, which can be used in diesel engines with little or no modification. Because biodiesel is derived from renewable lipids and typically contains no sulfur, it generally burns cleaner than petroleum diesel, emitting fewer particulates, hydrocarbons, and sulfur oxides. Ethanol and methanol come from biomass but are mainly used in alcohol fuels for gasoline engines, while gasoline is fossil-based, so biodiesel best fits the description of a renewable fuel emitting fewer pollutants.