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biodiesel.engr.uconn rparnas@ims.uconn

Biofuels in Connecticut: A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity Richard Parnas and Yi Li Director – Chemical Engineering Professor – Plant Science. http://biodiesel.engr.uconn.edu rparnas@ims.uconn.edu. Outline. Global Warming and Energy Use

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biodiesel.engr.uconn rparnas@ims.uconn

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  1. Biofuels in Connecticut: A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity Richard Parnas and Yi Li Director – Chemical Engineering Professor – Plant Science http://biodiesel.engr.uconn.edu rparnas@ims.uconn.edu

  2. Outline • Global Warming and Energy Use • UConn Biofuels Consortium • Why Biodiesel • A new reactor design • Biodiesel at UConn Gus Kellog’s Biodiesel Bug National Biodiesel Board http://www.biodiesel.org A Biodiesel Primer Background Information

  3. The Promise of Biofuels:Use the CO2 produced during use Light & CO2 CO2 & Water Produce Biofuels Water & Soil

  4. Importance of Poplar to DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory also identifies cellulosic biomass crops as the most suitable feedstocks in the Northeastern USA Switchgrass Canola Soybean Canola From ORNL-DOE

  5. UConn Biofuels ConsortiumKey issues: process economics, workforce development, fuel quality testing, bio-energy agriculture Energy Crop Lab Lab Facilities Diverse Membership Parnas – Chemical Engineering Li – Plant Science Yang – Natural Resources Carstensen – Economics Stuart – Chemistry Yarish – Marine Biology LaMondia – CT Ag Exptl Station Several other faculty from these and other departments. 4 graduate students 12 undergraduate students Currently funded by USDA, DOE, NSF (new), UConn

  6. Next UConn Symposium • Planned for Late February or Early March • Will be announced on http://biodiesel.engr.uconn.edu in the next month • Will have technical sessions on plant science, engineering, and economics • Will have workshops on biodiesel production, fuel cells, and project planning

  7. Biodiesel vs Ethanol Why does ethanol only provide a 30% reduction in CO2 but biodiesel gives an 80% reduction? Biodiesel can be produced much more efficiently than ethanol and it provides more energy.

  8. A Simple Reactor Continuous (Not batch) Small foot print Scales to large production Requires no extra heat or pressure Separates glycerol simultaneously Provides ASTM required conversion Low capitol investment Tested on virgin and waste oil 200,000 Gal/yr prototype Glycerol draining out the bottom

  9. YES - The Expansion of Biodiesel is explosive Current Production Capacity: 600 million Gal/yr Projected Capacity in 2-3 years: 1.8 billion Gal/yr Even CT is getting in the game

  10. Proposed to produce 1 million liters per year, About ½ of UConn’s consumption of diesel fuel

  11. The Stars are almost in Alignment • Once in a lifetime opportunity to change the nature of our interaction with the planet • Once in a lifetime opportunity for business and environmental interests to collaborate • Once in a lifetime opportunity for regional expression via unique natural resources • Biomass supply is potentially limiting • Emergency is largely unappreciated Contact: Richard Parnas, rparnas@ims.uconn.edu, 860-486-9060

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