Maria asks…
Biodiesel Production?
How much of the cost of biodiesel is due to the production/distribution/collection? (percentage)
admin answers:
In the UK, the cost is down to the high price of veg oil, and waste veg oil.
Production costs (chemicals, electricity, water/dry wash etc) usually account for around 15p/ltr. Duty is 30p/ltr. Waste veg oil usuall comes in around 55p/ltr- so the cost to make the fuel is £1/ltr.
Factor in overheads (wages, weights and measures, site, storage etc) and the profit margins for small scale producers aren’t exactly huge. The successful producers have an additional business to collect oil, therefore reducing costs.
Cheaper for people to make their own really!
Donna asks…
I need equipment for biodiesel production in Pakistan?
I am interested in using biodiesel, but i live in Pakistan, and i would like to start on a small scale, but in time increase.
i will need the necessary equipment for the production of biodiesel and for the modification of the diesel vehicle so that it may run on biodiesel.
thank you.
admin answers:
It would be cheaper and easier to run WVO waste veggie oil.fattywagons.com has some cheaper conversion kits.
Sandy asks…
Does anyone know of grants available to build a biodiesel production plant?
I am looking to buid a 1 million gallon per year biodiesel production plant in Louisiana and would like info on what grants may be available to alternative fuel manufacturing.
admin answers:
If biodiesel is economically competative, you should not need any grants, just present your business plan to any bank and they will loan you the money you need to build the plant.
William asks…
What means TONS when referring to biodiesel production?
When the capacity of a biodiesel facility is specified, usually the contractor speaks on tons of production. What I don’t know is tons of what are they talking about. It could be grain or vegetable oil (the raw material) or the biodiesel itself, or something else.
admin answers:
Biodiesel is a vegetable (soy, rape seed, palm) or animal oil (lard or tallow) that has been chemically treated with alcohol (ethyl or methyl) to form an ester.
A ton of biodiesel would need about 960 kg of oil. The rest of the mass would come from the alcohol.
Ken asks…
Can anyone explain me the steps of Biodiesel Production?
I was wondering, in the process of Biodiesel production what is it that they do during each step? I’ve reaserched using Wikipedia, but I can’t really understand what it says (basically because I’m a 15 year old without any knowledge or Chemistry…yet XD).
Anyways in the page it says that the steps are:
1. Purification
2. Neutralization
3. Transesterification (this is the one I REALLY don’t understand)
4. Workup
admin answers:
Contact the US Department of energy (DOE) and ask them to send you their brochures for it.
Sharon asks…
Why is waste vegetable oil better in biodiesel production than clean vegetable oil?
I made two batches of biodiesel, one with waste vegetable oil and the other with clean. The one with waste veggie oil turned out to be really potent and had a high energy content while the one with clean veggie oil didn’t even burn when lighted. I was wondering what makes the waste vegetable oil a better component of biodiesel than clean? Does it have something to do with the transesterification process?
Also, does anyone know the chemical formulas for biodiesel with waste vegetable oil and biodiesel with clean vegetable oil?
admin answers:
Your question is slightly unusual. It does not seem like the description of an experiment yet you seem to be looking for experimental results.
You describe making two batches of bio diesel. One started with used oil and are we to assume that the “clean” oil was virgin? There are hundreds of ways you could have done this and transesterification is only one method. Can we assume that you used the same process both times?
When describing the results you called one batch, “really potent and had a high energy content” but didn’t’ describe the method of analysis used to determine this finding. While the other sample “didn’t even burn when lighted” Was it supposed to? Have you heard that you can put a match out in diesel fuel due to its low volatility?
“Waste vegetable oil” often means it was used in deep fat frying, but this is not necessarily the case. Vegetable oil can also be used as a solvent. I know of a roofer who routinely uses vegetable oil to clean tar from his hands. In doing this the oil picks up impurities. Without knowing the source of the oil contamination their contribution to the result is also unknown.
Donald asks…
Where can I find a grant to finance a potential small scale biodiesel production?
I am looking to start a biodiesel collective in my community and I need a small amount of start up money
admin answers:
You need lots of money and permits. I’d start with a business plan and application for permits.
Your plan should address capital costs, labor requirements, contracts for supplies, and permits for all the hazardous waste management.
Carol asks…
What do you think about the economic viability of biodiesel production and the profitability of this enterpris
I want to understand more about biodiesel potentialities in the world market to solve the looming problem of the energy crisis in today’s world. Please enlighten me furthe on this matter.
admin answers:
First writer is correct. Another consideration when looking at Bio-Fuels is not just the energy costs, but the Water costs. Here in the Midwest, Water is constantly in shortage. Corn based Ethanol from irrigated land uses 2000 gallons of water just to grow one bushel of corn. And ethanol has LESS energy than gasoline. However, Soybeans that can be made into Bio-Diesel, only need about 300gallons of water per bushel…and Bio-Diesel actually has MORE energy/gallon than straight Diesel.
We can never produce enough Bio Fuels to offset oil imports in any significant way, but they can be used effectively to ‘Stretch’ our supplies for a while untill we can come up with a suitable alternative.
There is a GREAT article about Ethanol Production in the latest issue of Car and Driver magazine. It will answer alot of your questions about Bio-Fuels in relation to the energy issues today. BTW…There is NO CRISIS!!! Just temporary price spikes due to political instability in the world today.
David asks…
What is a substitute for methanol in biodiesel production?
admin answers:
Running straight vegetable oil doesn’t require methanol. If you need to convert oils and triglycerides then ethanol will also do it. But ethanol is drinking alcohol so you have to deal with the tax man and such when you make or handle ethanol.
Methanol isn’t as toxic as it is made out to be, but you do need to avoid drinking, inhaling or getting it all over you.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers