What are “Carbon Emissions”?
“Carbon Emissions” are technically and more accurately called “Carbon Dioxide Emissions.”
In today’s fast-paced news world and need to get information out quickly, the term “Carbon Dioxide Emissions”, has been abbreviated to “Carbon Emissions.” According to the EPA, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, or “Carbon Emissions” or simply “CO2,” are generated in a number of ways. Carbon Dioxide Emissions are produced naturally through the carbon cycle and through human activities like the burning of fossil fuels.
Natural sources of CO2 occur within the carbon cycle where billions of tons of atmospheric CO2 are removed from the atmosphere by oceans and growing plants, also known as ‘sinks,’ and are emitted back into the atmosphere annually through natural processes also known as ‘sources.’ When in balance, the total carbon dioxide emissions and removals from the entire carbon cycle are roughly equal.
Since the Industrial Revolution in the 1700’s, human activities, such as the burning of oil, coal and gas, and deforestation, have increased CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. In 2005, global atmospheric concentrations of CO2 were 35% higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions are responsible for about 80% of the problems related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
- Carbon Dioxide Emissions and carbon dioxide are one of the six chemicals
- Methane and Biomethane
- Nitrous oxide
- Hydrofluorocarbons
- Perfluorocarbons
- Sulfur hexafluoride
and all six chemicals are planned to be significantly reduced via the global agreements under the Kyoto Protocol and new legislation in the U.S. under the pending “Cap and Trade” regulations in an effort to prevent climate change.
Production Process Methods:
There are three common production process methods for creating biodiesel. The supercritical process is a catalyst free transesterification process. It uses supercritical methanol under high pressure and heat conditions to cause spontaneous reactions. Ultra or High Shear in-line batch reactor processes allow for continuous, semi-continuous, and batch production. Ultrasonic reactor processes allow for quick production time at lower heat and lower energy input. This is type of reactor is used in industrial scale continuous production plants.