Brazil’s B5 Biodiesel Test Starts Using Soy and Castor Bean

Brazil's biodiesel This week, Brazilian government-controlled oil company Petrobras began testing its B5 Biodiesel, a conventional diesel oil containing 5% of biodiesel. The company intends to commercialize the fuel next year, anticipating the law requiring mandatory use of 5% of biodiesel in conventional diesel, which should become effective in 2013.

The project, jointly developed by the government of the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, Ford, the University of Salvador (Unifacs – Bahia), Siemens VDO, MWM International, TI Automotive, Mahle, and Michelin, forecasts that six Ford Ranger vehicles should drive for 100,000 kilometers over a nine-month period in the state of Bahia.

Two types of biodiesel extracted from oleaginous plants will be used, one from castor bean, and another from soy. Two vehicles will test the biodiesel produced from castor bean, two will use soy biodiesel, and two other vehicles will run on regular diesel.

After the tests are completed, there will be an assessment of performance, emission of pollutants and abrasion caused by biodiesel to each motor, compared with conventional diesel. The quality of the fuels used will be monitored by laboratory tests using portable equipment.

Petrobras already sells, in 4,000 units of its network, its B2 Biodiesel, a diesel oil containing 2% of biodiesel. This percentage will be mandatory beginning in 2008. Petrobras already owns several biodiesel plants and, by 2011, the company should be producing 855 million liters of biodiesel per year.

Anba

Tags:

You May Also Like

LAN Peru Now Flies Los Angeles-Brazil Six Days a Week

LAN Peru, a member of the LAN Airline Alliance, has just announced a  new ...

Brazil: Yes to GM Soy. No Joy.

Brazil’s Vice-President signed a temporary decree authorizing Brazilian farmers to plant genetically modified soybeans. ...

Brazilian Channel for the Young Now on Joost

PlayTV Brazil, a Brazilian game channel, which also offers music and movies  launched its ...

The Dark Face of Brazil’s Carnaval

Airplanes full of hopeful revellers descend on Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, in the days before ...

Time of World Cup in Brazil

World Cup Brings Out the Best and Worst in Brazil

The World Cup brings out much that is great about living in Brazil but ...

Brazil Cuts Own Flesh to Pay Interest on Close to Half a Trillion Dollars Debt

Brazil government’s debt rose in August from US$ 430.279 billion (971.7 billion reais) to ...

Brazil’s Sergio Mendes: 40 Years of Bossa

Piano man Sergio Mendes was a young man barely in his 20s when the ...

Brazil Will Back Hamas As Long As It Recognizes Israel

The Brazilian government says it will collaborate with any Palestinian government that wants peace ...

Brazil’s Lula: "We Have to Grow Again"

"I’m going to do what I promised. I only ask for comprehension. It has ...

Confessions of an Unarmed American Living in Brazil

On October 23, a Sunday, Brazilians will be asked to vote on the following ...