Genetic engineering may make it possible to decrease reliance on fossil fuels.

Industries rely heavily on fossil fuels, like petroleum, to fuel their manufacturing processes and to create many of their products. Fossil fuels carry a heavy environmental price tag and aren't renewable. Genetic engineering could provide alternative energy sources. Genetically engineered fuels are renewable and easier on the environment than fossil fuels. History
The process to obtain fuel from a fat is not a new process. It was as early as 1 !", when scientists #. $uffy and %. &atrick conducted the first transesterification of a vegetable oil, many years before the first diesel engine became fully functional. Transesterification is the process of using an alcohol, such as ethanol or methanol, in the presence of a catalyst like sodium hydro'ide or potassium hydro'ide, to chemically break the molecule of the raw renewable oil into methyl or ethyl esters of the renewable oil with glycerol as a by(product.

)e may say the first vehicle biodiesel(powered was *udolf $iesel's prime model, a single 1+ feet iron cylinder with a flywheel at its base, that ran with this fuel for the first time in ,ugsburg, Germany on ,ugust 1+, 1 -", later he demonstrated his engine powered by peanut oil(a biofuel, receiving the .Grand &ri'. at the )orld Fair in &aris, France in 1-++. $iesel believed that the utili/ation of a biomass fuel was the future of his engine, as he stated in his 1-10 speech saying .the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal(tar products of the present time.. 1owever during the 1-0+'s, diesel engine manufacturers decided to alter their engines utili/ing the lower viscosity of the fossil fuel, best known as petrodiesel, rather than such biomass vegetable oil fuel. ,ll petroleum industries were able to make inroads in fuel markets because their fuel was much, much cheaper to produce than the biomass alternatives, ignoring that years ahead it would bring high pollution costs. , near elimination of the biomass fuel production infrastructure was for many years the result of petrodiesel commerciali/ation. 2egetable oil powered heavy duty vehicles in 3outh ,frica before )orld )ar II. 4ater, from 1-5 to 1--6, the 7.3. 8ational *enewable #nergy 4aboratory e'perimented with using algae as a biodiesel source in the .,9uatic 3pecies &rogram.. In the 1--+'s, France launched the local production of biodiesel fuel, known locally as diester, obtained by the transesterification of rapeseed oil. Today, environmental impact concerns and a decreasing cost differential made biomass fuels such as biodiesel a growing alternative and, in remembrance of *udolf $iesel first German run, ,ugust 1+ has been declared International :iodiesel $ay. Application of genetic engineering in the industry Biodiesel :iodiesel is an alternative fuel based on vegetable oils or animal fats, even those recycled after restaurants have used them for cooking. 2ehicle engines can be converted to burn biodiesel in its pure form, and biodiesel can also be blended with petroleum diesel and used in unmodified engines. :iodiesel is safe, biodegradable, reduces air pollutants associated with vehicle emissions, such as particulate matter, carbon mono'ide and hydrocarbons. Characteristics: Is a fuel made from +(-+; vegetable oil, 1+(0+; alcohol, and +."!(1.!; catalyst It<s a stable fuel that is reliable in most diesel engines =uts #missions >i'able with petroleum diesel fuel #asy to make and safe to handle and will work with all diesel fuel storage and pumping systems 8? engine modifications are necessary, :iodiesel can be poured straight into any $iesel fuel tank 7p to @ times faster than petroleum dieselAand non(to'ic. It has a mild, rather pleasant odour. :iodegradable

Fuel Alternative for Biodiesel 1. =ooking ?ilBGrease The by(product of much of home and restaurant cooking can be converted into biodiesel, which is capable of powering any vehicle that takes diesel fuel. This includes trucks, buses and even some passenger cars. In cities like 3an Francisco, free pick(up is offered to restaurants to collect used cooking oil and produce biodiesel. In addition to limiting the need for petroleum(based diesel, restaurants that recycle grease will keep it out of their pipes, where it leads to clogs and damage to sewer infrastructure. 0. =offee Grounds =offee grounds have a valuable disposal use outside of the compost pile. They can be turned into biodiesel. The trick here is that used coffee grounds contain a fair amount of oil, e9uivalent to the amount of oil in soybeans or rapeseeds. ?ne bonus of this fuel is its flavorful aroma. How is biodiesel made? :iodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products (( methyl esters Cthe chemical name for biodieselD and glycerin Ca valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other productsD. Why should I use biodiesel? :iodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less to'ic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. &roduced domestically with natural resources, its use decreases our dependence on imported fuel and contributes to our own economy. otential The future looks very bright for biodiesel. 8ot only is it easy to find and use, newer efficient diesel cars boast e'cellent fuel mileage. It<s one of the easiest alternative fuels to implement into your lifeE simply find a fuelling station and pump it into the tank of any diesel vehicle and drive away. Advantages Cleaner than diesel: :iodiesel reduces emissions of carbon mono'ide, carbon dio'ide, sulfur dio'ide and particulate matter. !enewable: It<s plant based, therefore what is used can be re(grown.

"upport of local agriculture: It<s another way to support your farmer. #onger engine life: :iodiesel is a natural lubricant. leasant e$haust smell: )hen burned, the fuel emits a fried food or barbecue aroma.

%isadvantages *e9uires special handling in cold weather. 3lightly less energy content than diesel fuel.

Tends to deteriorate non(synthetic or natural rubber fuel system parts Choses, sealsD. $epending upon the state of engine tune, there can be slightly higher levels o'ides of nitrogen in e'haust emissions.