Oil & Gas

Seeds from cannabis sativa, or industrial hemp, can be used to create a viable, sustainable diesel fuel. One researcher stated that most hemp farmers today probably produce enough hemp to create enough fuel to power their entire farm. Now, with this harvested crop producers can make two varieties of biofuel:

Hemp biodiesel is made from hemp seed oil and can be used in any conventional diesel engine. Research showed hemp oil had a 97% conversion rate into biodiesel and passed all lab tests. Imagine a fleet of transport trucks powered by fuel made by a plant which left the soil in better condition than it found it.

Meanwhile, the rest of the plant can be used to produce ethanol or methanol. Sometimes referred to as “hempanol” or “hempoline” this type of fuel is made through a process called cellulolysis which ferments and distills the hemp to extract ethanol. Methanol, on the other hand, is produced from the woody pulp matter in the stalks of plants. Creating methanol from hemp is done through a process of dry distillation.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hemp Biofuels
As a carbon neutral resource, the plant ingests carbon dioxide (CO2) very quickly, even faster than trees. Plus, carbon dioxide emissions from biodiesel is reabsorbed through the process of photosynthesis in plants. So, in addition to pulling toxins from the soil, the hemp plant can essentially “scrub” CO2 from the air we breathe.

When growing hemp, it returns about 70% of its required nutrients back into the soil, which means this crop requires much less fertilizer to grow. Less fertilizers means cleaner water supplies.

Creating a renewable resource crop which can restore the soil to health, pull toxins from the ground, air and water, while creating a viable energy source may sound like the American Farmer’s dream come true, however, it doesn’t come without its own set of challenges.

Disadvantages
Unfortunately, hemp production in the United States declined rapidly with a growing demand for synthetic fiber, and then the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 added to the villainous reputation of cannabis sativa. Although the Farm Bill of 2014 allows the industrial crop today, the infrastructure for producing hemp biofuels is not yet established. This creates a major hurdle to overcome.

Additionally, because hemp can grow virtually anywhere, some worry about the deforestation already occurring in some parts of the world for other feedstocks. Could hemp and the pursuit of fuel, cause further damage to habitat as humans look for new places to grow the crop?

A Greener Future is Possible
 

Highest Quality

Our products and materials always equal or out-perform traditional materials. Quality and performance are non-negotiable. From seeds to harvest, we pay close attention so we always deliver consistent, high-quality products.