Biodiesel Education

Luckily for all of us, biodiesel education is coming to a filling station near you! Many co-operatives, on both coasts, have sprung up. Biodiesel wholesalers are starting workshops and seminars (textlink) Universities are taking notice and not only offering classes, but have been actively involved in the biodiesel community themselves.

One such case in point,...the University of Idaho has an excellent course. (From their website...)

Biodiesel is a diesel fuel replacement made from vegetable oil. The University of Idaho has been involved in Biodiesel research since 1979. Dr. Charles Peterson is a leader in this field and has headed many Biodiesel research projects for various local, state, federal, and private agencies.

The University of Idaho has run many diesel engines on various forms of Biodiesel. Farm machinery, stationary engines, Cummins Diesel engines in Dodge Pickups, Navistar engines in Ford Pickups, and soon to be run in a Caterpillar engine in a Kenworth Truck.

Biodiesel can be made from most any plant derived oil. Biodiesel is actually an alcohol ester of vegetable oil. Research at the University of Idaho has involved the following types of oils.

• Mustard Seed Oil

• Rapeseed oil

• Canola oil

• Soybean oil

• Hydrogenated Soybean oil

• Tallow

• and others

The U of I currently uses a batch process to make Biodiesel. The basic ingredients are:

• Vegetable Oil

• Alcohol (typically ethanol or methanol)

• A Hydroxide Catalyst (typically NaOH or KOH)

Put very simply, the ingredients are mixed in a stainless steel batch reactor and stirred. We use an open vat reactor, however, when using methanol a closed reactor with a methanol vapor trap should be used. After the reaction (called esterification) takes place, the heavier glycerol component settles to the bottom and the resulting ester is pumped off to be used as Biodiesel. The glycerol has some commercial value and may be sold to offset the cost of the oil. Our experience is that our glycerol with no additional processing is very difficult to dispose of.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) (from their website...)

The United States Department of Agriculture is the sponsor of a National Biodiesel Education Program. The purpose of this program is to increase the awareness and ultimately utilization of biodiesel.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB), with the assistance of collaborators and strategic partners, is implementing this nationwide biodiesel education program on behalf of USDA. The program has a strong emphasis on the education and coordination with the American petroleum industry. This approach is fitting because the extent to which biodiesel can be profitably integrated into the existing national liquid fuel infrastructure will directly impact the extent to which biodiesel will be successful. The foundation of NBB's biodiesel education plan is similar to the highly efficient model of the petroleum industry pipeline system. NBB has assembled a world-class team of the country's most experienced biodiesel experts. NBB will link a pipeline of biodiesel stakeholders, partners, and collaborators to effectively deliver high-quality, consistent, and accurate information across the nation. An information pipeline that will help us grow America's energy future.

(More educational resources coming soon)

See Also:

• Biodiesel Library
• Biodiesel Equipment
• Education
• Seminars/Workshops
• biodiesel equipment tanks
• biodiesel equipment for every need...Scales
• Reactor parts
• Chemicals
• Wash tank parts
• Safety equipment