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Photos: Getting around on biodiesel

by ZDNet Author  |  July 19, 2006 11:36am PDT  |  Image 4 of 5

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biodiesel tanks
These plastic tanks in Josh Tickell's backyard are used to demonstrate how biodiesel fuel is made. The process involves mixing vegetable oil with an alcohol, typically methanol, and a catalyst, usually lye (or sodium hydroxide), to extract glycerin from the vegetable oil and "thin" it to make it compatible with the diesel engine.

"If you can make a margarita, you can make biodiesel," Tickell says.

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