The fuel for many vehicles, especially those used commercially, is diesel. Normal diesel is obtained from the distillation of crude petroleum, which is usually regarded as a non-renewable resource. Any limitation on the supply of petroleum can thus have dramatic effects on the commercial life of a country.
Conventional diesel causes much pollution in the form of hydrocarbon and sulfur emissions.
This is a problem associated with most fossil fuels. There is strong environmental pressure to eliminate or at least greatly reduce these emissions, specially in areas of environmental sensitivity such as lakes and inland waterways and in inner city areas. If alternative ways could be found to produce diesel, this could help countries plan into the future, ensure that supplies of fuel can be obtained and hopefully provide a cheaper alternative than replacing the diesel engine with other mechanisms. This unit involves students in a project to explore alternatives to diesel. Fuels based on vegetable oils produce much less hydrocarbon emissions and practically no sulfur emissions.