When were soybeans first used for energy?

Answer 1

Hello,

While I was unable to find a specific year for when soybean oil was first used as a fuel source (aside from the fuel it supplies the human body when it is eaten for food), it appears that it has been since at least before 1932.

A 1932 article in the Journal of the Franklin Institute describes several uses for soybean oil and includes the information that a "significant product is a fuel oil made from soybean oil by the Japanese. This is not commercially profitable now but indicates a possible future development."

Source: The full citation for this article is:

Current topics. (1932). Journal of the Franklin Institute, 214(5), 628-629.

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You can learn more about the history of the soybean in the article, "Soybean of Happiness, by Peter Warshall, which describes in some detail the 3000-year history of the plant, including Henry Ford's interest in its many uses.

(See related Link

With respect to its modern use as a biodiesel, according to the National Biodiesel Board, in 1990, the University of Missouri and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council funded a study to demonstrate the use of soy-based mono-alkyl esters as a diesel fuel replacement. The article linked below contains a complete timeline for the development and use of biodiesel in recent years.