Bioenergy-Biodiesel

Agenda lWhy biodiesel? lHow to make it? »Possible sources »Transesterification lBiodiesel plants »Imperium Renewables lBiodiesel story lBiodiesel/bioethanol discussion

Rudolf Diesel (1893) “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today,” he argued, “but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal- tar products of the present time."

Energy content Gasoline Butanol Ethanol Biodiesel Diesel 100% 96% 67% 86% 120%

Biodiesel versus bioethanol (1) ~12 x more (2005) *Europe currently represents 80% of global biodiesel consumption and production

Biodiesel versus bioethanol (2)

lBiodiesel is not the same thing as raw vegetable oil. It is produced by a chemical process which removes the glycerol from the oil. lBiodiesel »Domestic »Renewable »For diesel engines »Derived from oils and fats Biodiesel

Why biodiesel? lBiodiesel »Biodegradable »Non-toxic »Lower gas emission that diesel when burned (reduced green house gases emission by at least 68%) »Commercially available in Europe and US »Low S content »High lubricity

Biodiesel production lBiodiesel is typically produced by a reaction of a vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst to yield mono-alkyl esters and glycerol, which is removed.

How? lTranesterification: alcohol + ester → different alcohol + different ester »Base of acid as a catalyst »The oil is mixed with an alcohol, usually methanol or ethanol, and separated into methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerol.

Transesterification Methyl esters

Biodiesel technology

Possible sources lVegetable oil (soy, canola, palm, rapeseed, coconut etc.) lNon food plants (jatropha) lRecycled oil (McDonald’s fryer) lAnimal fats (fish oil) lAlgae

Palm oil (1) lPalm oil plantations- approximately 11 million hectares (2006) in the world »Conversion of tropical forest in Asia into palm oil plantation –Habitat destruction and potential extinction of certain endangered species (e.g. the orangutans in Borneo, the Sumatran tigers and Asian rhinoceros)

Palm oil (2) lPalm oil is derived from the plant’s fruit »A hundred kilograms of oil seeds typically produce 20 kilograms of oil »Crude palm oil is extracted from the yellow parts of oil palm fruit

Algae to biodiesel Greenfuels bioreactors Gallons of oil/acre/year Corn15 Soybeans48 Sunflower102 Rapeseed127 Palm oil635 Algae1850*cost Pond algae

What are algae? lPrimitive plants closely related to fungi lNo true leaves, stems or root systems lReproduce by means of spores, cell division or fragmentation. l“Live" from excess nutrients in the water and sunlight lOver 17,400 species of algae have been identified and thousands more probably exist lNot all of them produce high% of oils

Algae news (March, 2008)-PetroSun lMarch, 2008 PetroSun's, commercial algae farm in Rio Hondo, Texas has begun production of algae for biofuel production. »1,100 acres of saltwater or wastewater ponds –4.4 million gallons of algal oil and 110 million pounds of biomass on an annual basis. lFarming system will utilize native microalgae strains, so as to not disrupt local ecosystems. lPetroSun has dedicated 20 acres of ponds for a proposed algae derived JP8 jet fuel research and development program.

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) (1) lResistant to drought and pests lGrows on marginal lands lIndia, South Africa, South East Asia lSeeds contain up to 40% oil »Oil in the seeds for biodiesel »Residues for power electricity plants lThe plant yields more than »4x /ha that of soybean »10x /ha that of corn

lBritish Petroleum and D1 oils= D1-BP Fuel Crops Limited ($160 million over the next 5 years) »Producing and growing jatropha seedlings » 172,000 hectares of existing plantations in India, Southern Africa and South East Asia lImperium Renewables »Growing Jatropha curcas in Hawaii as a feedstock for biodiesel production Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) (2)

Imperium Renewables (1) Imperium Renewables has constructed a new biodiesel manufacturing plant at the Port of Grays Harbor. The facility includes 8 main tanks that can hold 2 million gallons each, and 2 smaller tanks that can hold 500,000 gallons each. The rail line that serves the facility passes through the center of this photo. Imperium Renewables=the largest biodiesel facility in US.

Imperium Renewables (2) lFebruary 24 th, 2008 Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 »20% biofuel (coconut)+80% standard fuel (1/4 engine) »No modification to the engine lWashington ferries Issaquah, March 2008 »B5 blend of canola biodiesel

Biodiesel cars lThe 86% fuel economy compared to 100% gasoline »A smoother running engine due to the cleaning and lubricating properties of the fuel. »Other benefits –Better smelling exhaust (french fries or a warm waffle iron). »Special materials required for fuel lines, hoses, valves, gaskets lB10, B20….

Bioethanol versus biodiesel lFeedstocks (competition with food industry) lMajor producers lProcess lYields lProduction facilities