Excerpts from an OFFICIAL publications) ================================================== CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES THIRTEENTH CONGRESS Third Regular Session ================================================== AN ACT TO DIRECT THE USE OF BIOFUELS, ESTABLISHING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE BIOFUEL PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES ================================================== THIRTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST REGULAR SESSION House Bill No. 1347 ================================================== AN ACT TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT, UTILIZATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS USING INDIGENOUS RESOURCES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES ================================================== SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall be taken to mean as follows: d) Biodiesel – shall refer to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) or mono-alkyl esters derived from vegetable oils or animal fats and other biomass- derived oils that shall be technically proven and approved by the DOE for use in diesel engines, with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS); ================================================== f) Biofuel – shall refer to bioethanol and biodiesel and other fuels made from biomass and primarily used for motive, thermal and power generation, with quality specifications in accordance with the PNS; ================================================== k) "Biofuels. shall refer to liquid fuels and blending components produced from biomass feedstocks, such as: ethanol from corn, cassava, sugarcane and biodiesel from coconut and other vegetable oil, used primarily for land, air and water transportation and other energy-using equipment designed for various purposes such as substitute or additive to fossil-petroleum fuels......... ================================================== Bio-fuels could be misleading notions in terms of finding/formulating a “genuine” bio, eco and/or environment-friendly fuel --- possibly a renewable source of an energy. It’s a misnomer indeed to come-up with an alternative energy that the same would contain inorganic petrol-base (methanol & ethanol) and acidic/toxic Sodium/ Potassium Hydroxide Catalytic Reactants, that could lead to corrosion and damage on engine parts. ================================================== Bio-diesel is just for mixture at 5%-20% to petro- diesel, If it goes beyond 10-percent or 20- percent use, it will not be good for the vehicle. “We cannot use 100 percent (B100) of coco fuel in the engine” according to Usec. Eduardo Mańalac, former Usec., of the Department of Energy, now is the President of PNOC.” Thursday, March 11, 2004 @10:12 PM GMT – 12- Baguio testing use of coconut fuel Ecology. ================================================== Petroleum Based Fuel Adulteration: ================================================== On the product Standardization of Petrol-Fuel Oils, International Trade Standard Specification, the general requirement stipulates – “The fuel oil specified herein shall be hydrocarbon oils FREE from INORGANIC ACIDS and FOREIGN MATTER.” ================================================== Bio-ethanol is just a mixture of 10% ethanol & 90% petro-gasoline. It would not be good also for the engine if the mixture would go beyond 35% because it will eat-up the rubber and plastic parts of the engine, thus increases the engine temperature. ================================================== Gasoline and MTBE What does MTBE do? MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) is classified by the EPA as a ‘possible human carcinogen.’ http://gasoline.dangernet.net/gasoline-and-mtbe ================================================== How does MTBE get into the water supply? Biodiesel Drawbacks ================================================== Biodiesel can cause some problems. For example: Gelling Temperature: …Biodiesel gels at a higher temperature (32 degrees) than standard #2 diesel (-15 degrees). This isn't a problem with biodiesel/petro-diesel blends of 20% or less (B20 - B2) but it makes the use of B100 unworkable in a commercial vehicle. ================================================== Lower BTU Rating: …A study done by the University of North Dakota indicated that, while there are significant fluctuations, #2 diesel contains about 140,000 BTUs per gallon while B100 contains about 130,000 BTUs. (B20 contains 138,000 BTUs.) ================================================== Higher Nitrogen Oxide Emissions: Since biodiesel contains no nitrogen, the increase in NOx emissions is probably due to the higher cetane rating and the high oxygen content of biodiesel. These two qualities are thought to cause the nitrogen contained in the air to be converted into NOx during combustion. ================================================== Higher Solvent Properties: Because biodiesel acts as a solvent it's likely, when used in an engine that ran previously on petro-diesel, that any sediment in the fuel system might be washed into the engine's filters and fuel injectors. Rubber gaskets and hoses will also degrade at a higher rate. This means that filters will need to be changed within 1000 miles of changing to a biodiesel blend and the hoses and gaskets will eventually need to be changed to something that doesn't react to biodiesel; like Flourenated Viton. ================================================== Health and safety Methanol is intoxicating but not directly poisonous. It is toxic by its breakdown (toxication) by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver by forming formic acid and formaldehyde which cause blindness by destruction of the optic nerve. Methanol ingestion can also be fatal due to its CNS depressant properties in the same manner as ethanol poisoning. It enters the body by ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin. Fetal tissue will not tolerate methanol. ================================================== Accordingly Biodiesel – shall refer to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) or mono-alkyl esters derived from vegetable oils or animal fats and other biomass-derived oils that shall be technically proven and approved by the DOE for use in diesel engines, with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS;