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Ethanol and Biodiesel Plants – Challenges and Solutions

Ethanol and Biodiesel Plants – Challenges and Solutions. ECOS Waste Committee September 22, 2008. Ethanol Plant Statistics. 171 plants in operation nationwide in 25 states Over 100 plants in 10 states Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska 10 Billion Gallons per year production

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Ethanol and Biodiesel Plants – Challenges and Solutions

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  1. Ethanol and Biodiesel Plants – Challenges and Solutions ECOS Waste Committee September 22, 2008

  2. Ethanol Plant Statistics • 171 plants in operation nationwide in 25 states • Over 100 plants in 10 states • Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska • 10 Billion Gallons per year production • 33 plants under construction • another 6 Billion Gallons per year Source: Renewable Fuels Association – September 16, 2008

  3. Missouri Ethanol Statistics • Six plants operational in the state – 283 Mgal Ethanol Production • Additional 810 Mgal Permitted but plants have not started construction • Missouri ranked 9th in corn production nationwide • Missouri produced ~300 Million Bushels of Corn in 2007 • One Bushel of Corn Equates to ~ 2.8 gallons of ethanol (840 Mgal production capacity of Ethanol) • 16% of Missouri’s 2007 Corn production went to ethanol

  4. http://www.dnr.mo.gov/ethanol/

  5. Ethanol Issues/Challenges • 10% Ethanol Mandate in Missouri– effective Jan 2008 • Water Usage • Ongoing citizen lawsuit over water availability (due to high water process needs in ethanol production) • Air Quality Compliance • Issues with co-location with grain elevators

  6. Biodiesel Plant Statistics • 171 plants in operation nationwide • 580 Million Gallons per year production • At least 78 biodiesel plants under construction • Addition of 1.4 Billion Gallons per year production – if built Source: National Biodiesel Board September 2008

  7. Missouri Biodiesel Statistics • Missouri currently has ~ 6 Biodiesel plants in operation • ~140 Mgal capacity • Smaller facilities – under the radar, may not need air construction permit in Missouri • Facilities not always in operation – due to market demand

  8. Biodiesel Issues/Challenges(The trouble with glycerin) • Biggest Environmental Challenge with Biodiesel Facilities in Missouri – glycerin • Two fish kills in Missouri attributed to mishandling of glycerin

  9. Biodiesel Process Alcohol Recovery Alcohol Reactor Settler Washing Purification Evaporation Biodiesel Vegetable Oil Catalyst Neutralization Distillation Settler Evaporation Glycerin Mineral Acid Oil or Fat + Alcohol ---------> Glycerin + Biodiesel 100 lbs + 10 lbs ---------> 10 lbs + 100 lbs Source: National Biodiesel Board

  10. Glycerin • ~10 gallons of glycerin for every 100 gallons of oil processed into biodiesel • Can be contaminated with unused alkaline catalyst, soaps, excess methanol • May only be 80-90% pure • Marketing to chemical industry requires ~ 99% purity • By-product or waste – what to do with it?

  11. Possible Uses of Glycerin • Refining glycerin - make it marketable • Burning for BTU value • Landfill? • Composting - realistic only for small quantities, need other feedstocks • Treatment facility may put glycerin in a digester with fats & oils. Has not been done in Missouri

  12. Improper Uses of Glycerin • Dumping into a water body, manhole or storm drain or on the ground • For the most part, you cannot take glycerin to a domestic wastewater treatment facility [such as a city sewage treatment plant]

  13. Improper disposal of Glycerin

  14. Improper disposal of Glycerin

  15. Solutions to Glycerin Issue • Missouri formed task force of inspectors – provided compliance assistance to all biodiesel operations in state • Partnered with National Biodiesel Board to sponsor a Webinar with multi-media presentations • Education – the proper use of glycerin, how to determine if it is a hazardous waste

  16. Questions? Discussion

  17. Thank you! Kyra Moore Air Permits Section Chief Missouri Department of Natural Resources Kyra.moore@dnr.mo.gov (573) 526-3835

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