Small-Scale Biodiesel Production

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Small-Scale Biodiesel Production

• John Nowatzki
• Extension Ag Machine Systems Specialist
• North Dakota State University

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Acknowledgements

• Dennis P. Wiesenborn, Professor, Agricultural and
  Biosystems Engineering Department

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Biodiesel

• Biodiesel Today
• What is Biodiesel?
• Oil Extraction and Preparation
• Processing
• Quality Factors
• Questions/Comments

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US Biodiesel Production
864 million gallons projected for 2007
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US Biodiesel Plants
864 million gallons per year.
Organization of producers, blenders marketers
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US Biodiesel Plants
1.7 billion gallons per year
Organization of producers, blenders marketers
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Bio-fuel Information
Switchgrass Corn Wood Grain Straw Soybeans Sunflowers Canola
Yield/Acre 5 Tons 115 bu1 10 Tons 2 Tons 32 bu1 (1920 lb/ac) 1360 lb/ac1 1375 lb/ac1
Ethanol 80 gal/ton 400 gal/ac 2.7 gal/bu 310 gal/ac 80 gal/ton2 800 gal/ac 75 gal/ton3 150 gal/ac
Biodiesel 1.48 gal/bu 47.3 gal/ac 6 gal/cwt 82 gal/ac 5.9 gal/cwt 81 gal/ac
Processing Cost/gallon 1.50 - 2.00 (USDA estimate by 2012) 1.10 (Current USDA Estimate) 1.50 - 2.00 (USDA estimate by 2012) 1.50 - 2.00 (USDA estimate by 2012) .50 (Current USDA Estimate) .50 (Current USDA Estimate) .50 (Current USDA Estimate)
1. 10-year average ND yields, ND Agricultural
Statistics Service. 2. National Renewable Energy
Laboratory, Bioethanol Multi-Year Technical Plan,
Preliminary Draft (Golden, CO,  July 1999). 3.
Iogen Corporation, Ottowa, CA
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What is Biodiesel?

• Processed engine fuel made from vegetable oils,
  waste cooking oil
• and animal fats
• B100 Pure Biodiesel
• ASTM D6751 Standard

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Seed Preparation

• Remove Extraneous Material
• Screening
• Pass Over Magnet

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Oil Extraction

• Expeller Pressing or Solvent Extraction
• Heat Seeds
• Crush Seeds
• Oil Extraction
• Crude Oil
• Cake
• 15 Oil

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Oil Preparation

• Degumming (May not be Necessary)
• Remove Phospholipids (gums)
• Water Wash
• Remove all Water
• Water - fatty acids form salts
• Heat to 120C
• Acid Degumming
• Settling

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Waste Cooking Processing

• Remove the Solids
• Remove Gums
• Determine Level of Free Fatty Acids
• Too high retards or stop processing
• May require titration
• Method of determining the amount of acids present
  in the oil
• Indicates amount of catalyst to use

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Processing

• Chemical Reaction
• Oil plus Alcohol
• Yields Esters Glycerin
• Catalyst - Potassium Hydroxide
• Proportions (In theory)
• 10 parts oil - 1 part alcohol
• 10 parts biodiesel - 1 part glycerin
• Requires Excess Alcohol (In practice)
• 10 parts oil 2 parts alcohol

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Biodiesel Washing

• Removes remaining
• Catalyst
• Methanol
• Glycerol
• Soaps
• Gums
• Add water to top of oil
• Water collects at bottom
• Repeat until clear water
• Heat for 1 hour at 248 F

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Quality Factors

• ASTM standard D6751
• 18 factors
• Purity
• Storage
• Cold Weather Properties
• Engines Operation
• Complete Conversion
• Catalyst and Glycerin Removed

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Biodiesel Quality Factors
American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
specifications. Biodiesel Standard ASTM D 6751
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Quality Factors

• Total Glycerin - Incomplete Reaction
• Free Glycerin - Incomplete Washing
• May Separate in Storage
• Clogs Filters
• Total Acid number
• Methanol Carryover
• Effects on Seals and Hoses

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Small-Scale Equipment
50 gal in 2 hours -12,675.00 BK-300
BioKing_Netherlands
50 gal in 60 hours - 7,995.00 BioPro_190 SSI
Indiana.
80 gal in 8 hours-6,800.00 Ester Machine B100
Supply_Georgia.
40 gal in 24 hours - 2,495.00 Home
Biodiesel_Bentonville, AR.
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More Information
John Nowatzki Extension Ag Machine Systems
Specialist North Dakota State University Telepho
ne 701-231-8213 Email John.Nowatzki_at_ndsu.edu h
ttp//www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/energy_efficienc
y/