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Biodiesel Production: Lifecycle of Biodiesel Production. Barry Latham, M.A.Ed. Biodiesel Production & Curriculum Chemistry & Physics Instructor Chicago Heights, Illinois. Vegetable Oil Sources (Small Scale). In the U.S., most biodiesel is made from soybean oil or recycled cooking oils
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Biodiesel Production: Lifecycle of Biodiesel Production Barry Latham, M.A.Ed. Biodiesel Production & Curriculum Chemistry & Physics Instructor Chicago Heights, Illinois
Vegetable Oil Sources(Small Scale) • In the U.S., most biodiesel is made from soybean oil or recycled cooking oils • Typically collected as waste oil from restaurants • Restaurants pay to have it removed, but you remove it for free • Times are changing, though, and waste oil is getting expensive (regionally dependent) • Animals fats, other vegetable oils, and other recycled oils can also be used to produce biodiesel • Blends of all kinds of fats and oils may be used to produce biodiesel
What Type of Vehicles Can Use Biodiesel Blends? • Blends such as B2 and B5 can be used safely in any compression-ignition engine • Light-duty and heavy-duty diesel cars • Trucks, tractors, boats • Electrical generators • Any diesel engine can use any percentage of biodiesel • <1994 engines need updating (1st year of use) • Viton fuel lines, frequent fuel filter changes • Biodiesel will corrode natural rubber • >1994 engines only need filter changes
a corrosion preventative a parts cleaner and degreaser a graffiti remover a paint and resin cleanup a hand cleaner a crop adjuvant a metal working lubricant a screen printing ink remover aircraft fuel home heating oil a lubricity additive for diesel fuel an adhesive remover a mold release agent an asphalt cleanup agent an oil spill cleanup and bioremediation agent an auto wax remover Biodiesel UsesBeyond Diesel Vehicles
Environmental Benefits • Only alternative fuel in the country to have successfully completed the EPA-required Tier I and Tier II health effects testing under the Clean Air Act (2000) • Conclusively demonstrated biodiesel’s significant reduction of virtually all regulated emissions • Showed biodiesel does not pose a threat to human health • Biodiesel contains no sulfur or aromatics • Use of biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine results in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter • U.S. DoE showed that the production and use of biodiesel, compared to petroleum diesel, resulted in a 78.5% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions • Biodiesel has a positive energy balance • For every unit of energy needed to produce a gallon of biodiesel, 5.28 units of energy are gained
Energy Security Benefits • Biodiesel can be manufactured using existing industrial production capacity • 1996 estimates • Annual military costs of securing foreign oil was $57 billion • Foreign tax credits accounted for another estimated $4 billion annually • Environmental costs were estimated at $45 per barrel
Economic Benefits • 2001 USDA study • Annual increase of 200 million gallons of soy-based biodiesel demand would boost total crop cash receipts by $5.2 billion cumulatively by 2010 • Average net farm income increase of $300 million per year • The price for a bushel of soybeans would increase by an average of 17 cents annually during the ten-year period • Positive performance attributes • Increased cetane, high fuel lubricity, high oxygen content
Quality Benefits • Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the EPA • Meets clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) • B100 has been designated as an alternative fuel by the U.S. DoE and the U.S. DOT • December 2001- the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) approved a specification (D6751) for biodiesel fuel • The National Biodiesel Board formed the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission (NBAC) to audit fuel producers and marketers in order to enforce fuel quality standards in the US • NBAC issues a ‘Certified Biodiesel Marketer’ seal of approval for biodiesel marketers that have met all requirements of fuel accreditation audits
Safety Benefits • Biodiesel is nontoxic • Far less damage than petroleum diesel if spilled or otherwise released to the environment • Biodiesel is less combustible • Flashpoint for biodiesel is >150°C • Petroleum diesel is ~52°C • Preferred for marine applications • Biodiesel is safe to handle, store, and transport
EPAct Benefits • November 1998- Congress approved the use of biodiesel as an Energy Policy Act (EPAct) compliance strategy • 450 gallons of pure biodiesel and burning it in new or existing diesel vehicles in at least a 20% blend with diesel fuel • The Congressional Budget Office and the U.S. Dept. of Ag have confirmed that the biodiesel option is the least-cost alternative fuel option for meeting the Federal government’s EPAct compliance requirements • Biodiesel offers an immediate and seamless way to transition existing diesel vehicles into a cleaner burning fleet
Green House Gas Benefits • Total life cycle GHG emissions from the fossil fuel that is displaced • 82.32 g/MJ • Fossil fuel GHG emissions avoided by using biodiesel instead of fossil fuel • 39.76 g/MJ • Net GHG emissions saved by producing and using biodiesel • 33.32 g/MJ • Net fraction of GHG emissions saved by producing and using biodiesel • 40.5%
Glycerin TreatmentMeOH Removal • MeOH is still present and needs to be removed before it can be used • NOT a co-product, just used in excess • Common misconception that MeOH is produced • Distillation- separation of liquids based on boiling points • MeOH has a lower boiling point than glycerin • Turns to vapor first • Can be condensed, collected and reused • Glycerin turns thicker and darker • Heating element, not flame, is used
Glycerin Distillation (Large Scale) • ~$1M to build Methanol Recovery & Glycerin Purification Process • Crude (80% pure) • By-product of biodiesel • Tech Grade (>97% pure) • Industrial applications only • Refined (>99.7% pure) • USP & FCC Grade • Cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food
Glycerin Co-Product (Small Scale)Soap (1L batch) • Remove the residual (toxic) methanol first • KOH-based biodiesel makes liquid soap glycerin • NaOH-based production makes bar soap • At 50°C, preheat any of the following ratios before mixing for 5 minutes • Glycerin 33mL 47mL 54mL • Water 7mL 5mL 5mL • KOH 1g 1g1g • Can not use KOH and NaOH inter-changeably • Fragrances and dyes can be added • D-limonene smells like oranges and is cheaply made/purchased • Most dyes muddy the dark brown color
Synthesis from Glycerol • Propylene Glycol- similar applications as glycerol • “Low-pressure hydrogenolysis of glycerol to propylene glycol.” Applied Catalyst A: General A 2005, 225-231. • “Reducing Byproduct Formation during Conversion of Glycerol to Propylene Glycol.” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2008, 47, 6878–6884. • Hydrogen- fuel applications • “A Comparative Thermodynamic and Experimental Analysis on Hydrogen Production by Steam Reforming of Glycerin.” Energy & Fuels 2007, 21, 2306-2310. • Acrolein- polymers, acetonitrile, polyurethane • “Low-Pressure Packed-Bed Gas-Phase Dehydration of Glycerol to Acrolein.” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.2009, 48, 3279–3283.
Glycerin Co-ProductOther Uses • Health supplement • Increases blood volume • Enhances temperature regulation • Improves exercise performance in the heat • Helps "hyperhydrate" the body by increasing blood volume levels and helping to delay dehydration • Tocopherol (vitamin E) • Other uses • Glycerine is also a source of lecithin • fat emulsifier and a vital component of all cell membranes in the body • Skin moisturizer, lotion, deodorant, makeup, toothpaste, sweets and cakes, pharmaceuticals and patent medicines, paper manufacturing, printing ink, textiles, plastics, and electronic components
Glycerin Co-ProductOther Uses • Paint brush cleaner • Rinse brush as much as possible with water • Work brush in a small container with about 20 mL of glycerin • Rinse brush under water until all milky-ness is removed • Repeat glycerin stage with fresh glycerin as needed • Check that brush doesn't smell of paint and store brush as usual. • Safe sweetener: • Glycerin is an alcohol and is used as a preservative • It is very sweet, yet it contains no sugar • This makes it an ideal sweetener for patients who cannot take sugar