Biodiesel: The Fuel, the Industry, and the State of the Movement Kumar Plocher 2/08

What’s in the Jar? “ Biodiesel” is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)

“ Biodiesel” is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)

What’s in the Jar? “ Biodiesel” is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) Biodiesel is any kind of fatty acid that has been permanently thinned through transesterification .

“ Biodiesel” is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)

Biodiesel is any kind of fatty acid that has been permanently thinned through transesterification .

What’s in the Jar? “ Biodiesel” is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) Biodiesel is any kind of fatty acid that has been permanently thinned through transesterification . A particular biodiesel’s source oil is known as its “feedstock”

“ Biodiesel” is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)

Biodiesel is any kind of fatty acid that has been permanently thinned through transesterification .

A particular biodiesel’s source oil is known as its “feedstock”

What’s in the Jar? “ Biodiesel” is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) Biodiesel is any kind of fatty acid that has been permanently thinned through transesterification . A particular biodiesel’s source oil is known as its “feedstock” Biodiesel can be dark or light, and comprises many different colors and many different smells

“ Biodiesel” is the trade name for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)

Biodiesel is any kind of fatty acid that has been permanently thinned through transesterification .

A particular biodiesel’s source oil is known as its “feedstock”

Biodiesel can be dark or light, and comprises many different colors and many different smells

Transesterification The basic ingredients for 1 L of biodiesel production, using the simplest possible method: 1 liter of virgin, uncooked vegetable oil 200 milliliters of methyl alcohol (methanol) 5 grams of Sodium Hydroxide (lye) Yields approximately 1 L biodiesel, 200 milliliters glycerol byproduct

The basic ingredients for 1 L of biodiesel production, using the simplest possible method:

1 liter of virgin, uncooked vegetable oil

200 milliliters of methyl alcohol (methanol)

5 grams of Sodium Hydroxide (lye)

Yields approximately 1 L biodiesel,

200 milliliters glycerol byproduct

Transesterification The lye is dissolved into the methanol to produce sodium methoxide.

The lye is dissolved into the methanol to produce sodium methoxide.

Transesterification The lye is dissolved into the methanol to produce sodium methoxide. The sodium methoxide is introduced into the vegetable oil.

The lye is dissolved into the methanol to produce sodium methoxide.

The sodium methoxide is introduced into the vegetable oil.

Transesterification The lye is dissolved into the methanol to produce sodium methoxide. The sodium methoxide is introduced into the vegetable oil. The mixture is agitated for approximately 15 minutes.

The lye is dissolved into the methanol to produce sodium methoxide.

The sodium methoxide is introduced into the vegetable oil.

The mixture is agitated for approximately 15 minutes.

Transesterification The lye is dissolved into the methanol to produce sodium methoxide. The sodium methoxide is introduced into the vegetable oil. The mixture is agitated for approximately 15 minutes. The mixture is given time to settle into biodiesel and glycerol byproduct.

The lye is dissolved into the methanol to produce sodium methoxide.

The sodium methoxide is introduced into the vegetable oil.

The mixture is agitated for approximately 15 minutes.

The mixture is given time to settle into biodiesel and glycerol byproduct.

What’s Happening? The triglyceride molecule is “cracked” into a glycerol molecule and three esters The esters re-attach to methanol molecules, forming methyl esters A crude glycerol byproduct is created

The triglyceride molecule is “cracked” into a glycerol molecule and three esters

The esters re-attach to methanol molecules, forming methyl esters

A crude glycerol byproduct is created

In the Real World… Not all feedstocks are created equal, and often times the cheapest and easiest to acquire are, in many ways, the hardest to work with. Feedstocks that are higher in Free Fatty Acids (i.e. used fryer oil), known as FFAs, require a titration that determines how much extra lye is needed to compensate for the oil’s acidity. Feedstocks that are really high in FFAs may require alternatives to lye, alternative amounts of alcohol, and different production processes entirely.

Yokayo Transesterification A typical batch of Yokayo Biofuels biodiesel: 1100 gallons of screened, heated, dewatered, filtered used fryer oil ~275 gallons of methanol (varies, based on titration), split into 2 stages (i.e. 230/45) ~140 lbs. of Potassium Hydroxide (KOH; varies, based on titration), split into 2 stages (i.e. 120/20) We mix for 2 hours, settle for 1 1/2 hours, drain the glycerol, and then do the second stage, which is another 2 hours of mixing followed by overnight settling. The reaction is done around 130 deg F, at atmospheric pressure, in a stainless steel reaction vessel. A simple test for conversion completion is performed before the batch is deemed finished. Sometimes, 3 or more stages are necessary. Yields approximately 1000 gallons biodiesel, ~300 gallons crude glycerol byproduct

A typical batch of Yokayo Biofuels biodiesel:

1100 gallons of screened, heated, dewatered, filtered used fryer oil

~275 gallons of methanol (varies, based on titration), split into 2 stages (i.e. 230/45)

~140 lbs. of Potassium Hydroxide (KOH; varies, based on titration), split into 2 stages (i.e. 120/20)

We mix for 2 hours, settle for 1 1/2 hours, drain the glycerol, and then do the second stage, which is another 2 hours of mixing followed by overnight settling. The reaction is done around 130 deg F, at atmospheric pressure, in a stainless steel reaction vessel. A simple test for conversion completion is performed before the batch is deemed finished. Sometimes, 3 or more stages are necessary.

Yields approximately 1000 gallons biodiesel,

~300 gallons crude glycerol byproduct

What’s Next… The crude methyl esters (not yet “biodiesel”) go into a wash process. - 3 stage water misting with progressive agitation

The crude methyl esters (not yet “biodiesel”) go into a wash process.

- 3 stage water misting with progressive agitation

What’s Next… The crude methyl esters (not yet “biodiesel”) go into a wash process. - 3 stage water misting with progressive agitation The crude glycerol goes into settling tanks to recover biodiesel. - Then on to purification or low value uses

The crude methyl esters (not yet “biodiesel”) go into a wash process.

- 3 stage water misting with progressive agitation

The crude glycerol goes into settling tanks to recover biodiesel.

- Then on to purification or low value uses

What’s Next… The crude methyl esters (not yet “biodiesel”) go into a wash process. - 3 stage water misting with progressive agitation The crude glycerol goes into settling tanks to recover biodiesel. - Then on to purification or low value uses The fuel is still not considered “biodiesel” until it has been dehydrated and filtered and meets the ASTM spec…

The crude methyl esters (not yet “biodiesel”) go into a wash process.

- 3 stage water misting with progressive agitation

The crude glycerol goes into settling tanks to recover biodiesel.

- Then on to purification or low value uses

The fuel is still not considered “biodiesel” until it has been dehydrated and filtered and meets the ASTM spec…

The ASTM Standard, D 6751 Property Method Limits Units Water & Sediment D2709 0.050 MAX % vol. Kinematic Viscosity, D445 1.9-6.0 mm2/Sec. Sulfated Ash D874 0.020 MAX % mass Sulfur S 15 Grade D5453 0.0015 MAX % mass S 500 Grade D5453 0.05 MAX % mass Copper Strip corrosion D130 No. 3 MAX Alcohol Content (one of the following must be met) Methanol Content EN14110 0.20 MAX % vol. Flashpoint, closed cup D93 130 MIN ° C Cetane Number D613 47 MIN Cloudpoint D2500 Report to Customer° C Carbon Residue D4530 0.050 MAX % mass Acid Number D664 0.50 MAX mg KOH/g Free Glycerine D6584 0.020 MAX % mass Total Glycerine D6584 0.24 MAX % mass Phosphorus D4951 10 MAX ppm Vacuum Distillation End Point D1160 360 MAX ° C Oxidative Stability EN14112 3 MIN hours Calcium and Magnesium (combined) EN14538 5 MAX ppm Sodium and Potassium (combined) EN14538 5 MAX ppm

Property Method Limits Units

Water & Sediment D2709 0.050 MAX % vol.

Kinematic Viscosity, D445 1.9-6.0 mm2/Sec.

Sulfated Ash D874 0.020 MAX % mass

Sulfur

S 15 Grade D5453 0.0015 MAX % mass

S 500 Grade D5453 0.05 MAX % mass

Copper Strip corrosion D130 No. 3 MAX

Alcohol Content (one of the following must be met)

Methanol Content EN14110 0.20 MAX % vol.

Flashpoint, closed cup D93 130 MIN ° C

Cetane Number D613 47 MIN

Cloudpoint D2500 Report to Customer° C

Carbon Residue D4530 0.050 MAX % mass

Acid Number D664 0.50 MAX mg KOH/g

Free Glycerine D6584 0.020 MAX % mass

Total Glycerine D6584 0.24 MAX % mass

Phosphorus D4951 10 MAX ppm

Vacuum Distillation End Point D1160 360 MAX ° C

Oxidative Stability EN14112 3 MIN hours

Calcium and Magnesium (combined) EN14538 5 MAX ppm

Sodium and Potassium (combined) EN14538 5 MAX ppm

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral

• Is CO 2 -neutral

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral • Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

• Is CO 2 -neutral

• Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral • Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel • “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter)

• Is CO 2 -neutral

• Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

• “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter)

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral • Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel • “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter) • Domestically sourced and manufactured

• Is CO 2 -neutral

• Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

• “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter)

• Domestically sourced and manufactured

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral • Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel • “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter) • Domestically sourced and manufactured • Higher lubricity

• Is CO 2 -neutral

• Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

• “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter)

• Domestically sourced and manufactured

• Higher lubricity

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral • Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel • “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter) • Domestically sourced and manufactured • Higher lubricity • Takes advantage of high fuel economy of diesel engines

• Is CO 2 -neutral

• Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

• “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter)

• Domestically sourced and manufactured

• Higher lubricity

• Takes advantage of high fuel economy of diesel engines

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral • Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel • “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter) • Domestically sourced and manufactured • Higher lubricity • Takes advantage of high fuel economy of diesel engines • Is only “alternative” fuel to have completed EPA Tier I & II Health Effects Testing

• Is CO 2 -neutral

• Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

• “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter)

• Domestically sourced and manufactured

• Higher lubricity

• Takes advantage of high fuel economy of diesel engines

• Is only “alternative” fuel to have completed EPA Tier I & II

Health Effects Testing

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral • Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel • “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter) • Domestically sourced and manufactured • Higher lubricity • Takes advantage of high fuel economy of diesel engines • Is only “alternative” fuel to have completed EPA Tier I & II Health Effects Testing • Is “plug and play” w/existing petroleum infrastructure

• Is CO 2 -neutral

• Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

• “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter)

• Domestically sourced and manufactured

• Higher lubricity

• Takes advantage of high fuel economy of diesel engines

• Is only “alternative” fuel to have completed EPA Tier I & II

Health Effects Testing

• Is “plug and play” w/existing petroleum infrastructure

Biodiesel Benefits • Is CO 2 -neutral • Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel • “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter) • Domestically sourced and manufactured • Higher lubricity • Takes advantage of high fuel economy of diesel engines • Is only “alternative” fuel to have completed EPA Tier I & II Health Effects Testing • Is “plug and play” w/existing petroleum infrastructure • Can be made from a wide variety of feedstocks, including recycled “waste”, organic crops, and über crops such as algae

• Is CO 2 -neutral

• Much lower emissions than petroleum diesel

• “ No sulfur” fuel (can be used with catalytic converter)

• Domestically sourced and manufactured

• Higher lubricity

• Takes advantage of high fuel economy of diesel engines

• Is only “alternative” fuel to have completed EPA Tier I & II

Health Effects Testing

• Is “plug and play” w/existing petroleum infrastructure

• Can be made from a wide variety of feedstocks, including

recycled “waste”, organic crops, and über crops such as

algae

Biodiesel “3 Things to Know” Properly made biodiesel does have some characteristics that are good to know about:

Properly made biodiesel does have some

characteristics that are good to know about:

Biodiesel “3 Things to Know” Properly made biodiesel does have some characteristics that are good to know about: Solvent nature is not compatible with rubber fuel lines

Properly made biodiesel does have some

characteristics that are good to know about:

Solvent nature is not compatible with rubber fuel

lines

Biodiesel “3 Things to Know” Properly made biodiesel does have some characteristics that are good to know about: Solvent nature is not compatible with rubber fuel lines Solvent nature cleans out fuel tanks

Properly made biodiesel does have some

characteristics that are good to know about:

Solvent nature is not compatible with rubber fuel

lines

Solvent nature cleans out fuel tanks

Biodiesel “3 Things to Know” Properly made biodiesel does have some characteristics that are good to know about: Solvent nature is not compatible with rubber fuel lines Solvent nature cleans out fuel tanks Cold weather characteristics are worse than those of petroleum diesel

Properly made biodiesel does have some

characteristics that are good to know about:

Solvent nature is not compatible with rubber fuel

lines

Solvent nature cleans out fuel tanks

Cold weather characteristics are worse than

those of petroleum diesel

A Tale of Two Industries On the one hand are big soy corporations and big petrochemical firms, often working in partnership

On the one hand are big soy corporations

and big petrochemical firms, often

working in partnership

A Tale of Two Industries On the one hand are big soy corporations and big petrochemical firms, often working in partnership Alternatively, there is a growing number of smaller independent companies and cooperatives dedicated to producing and distributing sustainable biodiesel

On the one hand are big soy corporations

and big petrochemical firms, often

working in partnership

Alternatively, there is a growing number of

smaller independent companies and

cooperatives dedicated to producing

and distributing sustainable biodiesel

A Tale of Two Industries Centralization vs. Decentralization

Centralization

vs.

Decentralization

Yokayo Biofuels Founded in 2001 Focused on the growth of a living, local economy Pioneering a sustainable, vertically-integrated business model

Founded in 2001

Focused on the growth of a living, local economy

Pioneering a sustainable, vertically-integrated business

model

Biodiesel Books From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank , by Josh Tickell Biodiesel Homebrew Guide , by Maria “Girl Mark” Alovert The Biodiesel Handbook , by Gerhard Knothe, Jon Van Gerpen, and Jürgen Krahl Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines , by K. Shaine Tyson (NREL) Biodiesel , by Greg Pahl Biodiesel Power , by Lyle Estill

From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank , by Josh Tickell

Biodiesel Homebrew Guide , by Maria “Girl Mark”

Alovert

The Biodiesel Handbook , by Gerhard Knothe,

Jon Van Gerpen, and Jürgen Krahl

Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines , by K.

Shaine Tyson (NREL)

Biodiesel , by Greg Pahl

Biodiesel Power , by Lyle Estill

And, for the kids…

Biodiesel Web Resources http://www.fuelresponsibly.org - the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance http://www.biodiesel.infopop.cc - clearinghouse for biodiesel homebrewers http://biodieselblogs.truffula.net - a blog aggregator, and a good place to read biodiesel news and related tidbits http://www.biodiesel.org - the website of the National Biodiesel Board http://www.ybiofuels.org - Yokayo Biofuels website http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/article_alge.html - Inspiring article about algae biodiesel

http://www.fuelresponsibly.org

- the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance

http://www.biodiesel.infopop.cc

- clearinghouse for biodiesel homebrewers

http://biodieselblogs.truffula.net

- a blog aggregator, and a good place to read biodiesel news and related tidbits

http://www.biodiesel.org

- the website of the National Biodiesel Board

http://www.ybiofuels.org

- Yokayo Biofuels website

http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/article_alge.html

- Inspiring article about algae biodiesel

Contact Info Kumar Plocher President, Yokayo Biofuels, Inc. kumar @ybiofuels.org 1-877-806-0900

Kumar Plocher

President, Yokayo Biofuels, Inc.

kumar @ybiofuels.org

1-877-806-0900

(BIO)DIESEL HYBRIDS

(Bio)Diesel Motorcycle!!!