Hemp Biofuels
Did you know that Hemp can be used as fuel to run your Car, Motorcycle, or Van? This might sound a bit far-fetched, but Hemp is one of the best Biofuels around. Biofuels are a lot more sustainable than traditional fuels. This is because the materials used to make biofuels can be grown and harvested continuously at a sustainable rate. And hemp is widely believed to be the most environmentally friendly and cost-efficient fuel crop around.
Hemp is an ideal plant for organic farmers because it requires minimal inputs, it is fairly resistant to pests and diseases, and grows so fast and tall that it outcompetes weeds, minimising the need for hand cultivation — a major labor cost for most other organic crops.
Hemp is environmentally friendly to produce and can grow in practically any temperate leaving the ground in better condition than when it was planted.
Hemp seeds are used in the production of Biodiesel
Hemp stalks are used to make Bioethanol/methanol.
There are different types of fuel that can be produced from the hemp plant, biodiesel, and bioethanol/methanol.
Diesel Production: Biodiesel is extracted from the seed oil and is the only alternative fuel source that can work in any diesel engine. It’s safe to store, handle, and transport, and it’s biodegradable.
Ethanol production: Converting hemp into ethanol requires a process called cellulolysis, whereby the cellulose content in the plant is pre-treated and converted into sugars which are then fermented and distilled for use as fuel.
Methanol production: Methanol is created through a dry distillation process like pyrolysis. The organic material is subject to thermal decomposition, a process that alters the composition of the plant and produces gases that can then be condensed into methanol.
Scientists have been testing the potential of biodiesel as an automotive fuel for more than 100 years, and even the original Ford vehicles ran on this type of fuel! Hopefully, the world will wake up soon and sustainable Biofuels will replace the depleting fossil fuels we are so dependent upon.
