Ayhan Demirbas talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's Fast Breaking Paper Paper in the field of
Engineering.
Article Title: Progress and recent trends in biodiesel
fuels
Authors: Demirbas, A
Journal: ENERG CONV MANAGE
Volume: 50
Issue: 1
Page: 14-34
Year: JAN 2009
* Selcuk Univ, TR-42031 Konya, Turkey.
* Sila Sci, Trabzon, Turkey.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
This work has attracted considerable interest because the subject of motor
fuel and its effect in the daily lives of people maintains a keen interest.
The paper examines entirely new areas of engine fuel research, summarizes
recent trends, and discusses the most important current methods used to
produce biodiesel fuels.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
"There are significant socioeconomic impacts associated
with investment in a new power plant, including increases
in employment, output, and income for the local and
regional economy."
Biodiesel fuels are attracting increasing attention worldwide, acting as
blending components or direct replacements for diesel fuel in vehicle
engines.
Biodiesel fuel is a renewable substitute fuel for petroleum diesel or
petrodiesel fuel made from vegetable or animal fats; it can be used in any
mixture with petrodiesel fuel, as it has very similar characteristics, but
it has lower exhaust emissions.
Biodiesel fuel has better properties than petrodiesel fuel; it is
renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic, and essentially free of sulfur and
aromatics.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
Biodiesel seems to be a realistic fuel for future use and it has become
more attractive recently because of its environmental benefits. Biodiesel
is an environmentally friendly fuel that can be used in any diesel engine,
without modification.
Are there any social or political implications for
your research?
The biodiesel policy aims to promote the use in transport of fuels made
from biomass, as well as other renewable fuels.
Policy drivers for renewable liquid biofuels have attracted particularly
high levels of assistance in some countries, given their promise of
benefits in several areas of interest to governments, which include
agricultural production, greenhouse gas emissions, energy security, trade
balances, rural development, and economic opportunities for developing
countries.
The socioeconomic impacts on a local economy arising from providing power
through renewable resources instead of conventional generation technologies
are very important.
These impacts include direct and indirect differences in jobs, income, and
gross output.
There are significant socioeconomic impacts associated with investment in a
new power plant, including increases in employment, output, and income for
the local and regional economy.
Increases in these categories occur as labor is directly employed in the
construction and operation of a power plant, as local goods and services
are purchased and utilized.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Demirbas
Dean of Engineering Faculty
Sirnak University
Sirnak, Turkey