The idea of running Diesel engines on vegetable oil is not new. Actually it was dr. Rudolf Diesel himself who predicted a great future for vegetable oil as a fuel for his engine, at the World Exhibition in Paris, 1900. Biofuel definitions Biofuels are fuels produced from biomass (waste from agricultural or forest material and planted biomass). The most important biofuels are: Straight Vegetable Oil (Pure Plant Oil) Oil obtained from oil holding seeds (rapeseed, Sunflower, Jatropha, etc) by pressing and filtering, no other process steps Biodiesel Vegetable oil which is chemically modified (esterification). Methanol or ethanol is added to the oil to form diesel and glycerine. The glycerine is then separated from the diesel. The end product has properties similar to fossil diesel. Bio-ethanol Fermentation of sugar and starch holding plant, like grain, sugarcane, etc. Bio-methanol Gasification of biomass and transformation into methanol by methanol synthesis. The scope of Diligent Tanzania is for this moment limited to Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) and biodiesel production. Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) versus Biodiesel SVO has a higher viscosity. Therefore the oil flows less easily through fuel lines. In small engines (e.g cars) the SVO needs to be pre-heated and this requires some modifications to the engine. Another solution to make SVO thinner is chemical modification of SVO into biodiesel. Biodiesel has comparable properties to fossil diesel fuel (i.e. about the same viscosity), and requires no modifications to the engine. Modification of the engine Diligent Tanzania ltd. can advise you how to modify your diesel engines (for cars and generators). Contact our office for more information. Research on presscake Presscake is a product which is derived from processing Jatropha seeds. This presscake can be used as an energy source as well. Diligent Tanzania has the technology to convert this presscake into usefull material for cooking which helps to stop deforestation. However this is still under research.   Diligent Green Carcoal Coming soon! Diligent is developing its own charcoal factory, using jatropha presscake. This charcoal is extremely sustainable charcoal because we avoid cutting down trees.  This charcoal replaces charcoal from illegally cutted down trees. Illegaly cutted down trees is one of the major reasons of deforestation and erosion in Africa.  The introduction of Diligent Green Charcoal will take place at the Nane Nane Fair on 8th of August 2009.