Freedom Fries(Biodiesel as a Viable alternative)

The Other Paper ^ | 2-16-06 | Sara Smith

[sausageseller]

From your link, It looks like to receive the tax credit you have to be a "company" . You also have to be a "registered" biodiesel producer with the EPA, making biodiesel to ASTM standards.

I am none of the above.

[PROSOUTH]

I assure you, you can get $1 per gallon to use it.

[sausageseller]

I do not want to bypass the rules because I will not register with the EPA.

[sausageseller]

You do understand ,I produce my own biodiesel.

[wouldntbprudent]

I'm reading this article and, not knowing much about biodiesel, I'm thinking: you're kidding me! This is a no-brainer!

Why can't "mom and pop" operations like this pop up all over? They are making enough for 3 cars (it seems) in a 6/x6 space in a garage, with a basic machine. How hard can this be? Why isn't it happening?

[wouldntbprudent]

Man, I didn't know any of this was happening. so cool!

[wouldntbprudent]

Do you know about how much fryer oil it takes to make the amount these guys appear to make in their garage? How much can a restaurant produce? ANd it doesn't sound like they picked it up in a tanker truck.

I'd just like an idea of how much we're talking about here.

[FreeLuna]

I don't know. I guess not enough people realize how viable this is. Another problem is getting enough used oil. It has to be free from grease...no burger drippings for example. And there is a problem in colder climates with the oil congealing...but,despite these issues,if one were motivated it is totally do-able.

[FreeLuna]

According to my wife(who wrote the piece) they pick up plastic barrels( about 55gal) of the oil weighing about 160lbs once a week. From that amont once it is processed that nets about 80% biodeisel and 20% glycerin.

[wouldntbprudent]

thanks for the info

[Mr. Lucky]

The answer is yes and no. Soybeans generally grown for sale on the open market will yield somewhere a little over 11 lbs per bushel of oil and about 48 lbs per bushel of protein meal. Presently, the oil isn't the most valuable product of soy processing; the 48% protein meal is. An acre of soybeans which produces 60 gallons of oil will also produce about 2,600# of protein meal, worth about $247.00 at this morning's quote.

High oil varieties of soybeans exist (and even higher oil varieties would exist) if the economics shifted from the value of the meal to the value of the oil.

[sausageseller]

According to my wife(who wrote the piece) they pick up plastic barrels( about 55gal) of the oil weighing about 160lbs once a week. From that amont once it is processed that nets about 80% biodeisel and 20% glycerin.

You have to add methanol to the process. So even though the %s are approx 80/20 you are working off more than the 55gal base. I usually end up with more finished product than amount of oil base I start with, even after the 20% loss of glycerin.

[DouglasKC]

I think cost will do this in. Pure vegetable oil is more expensive than gasoline. If biodiesel becomes much more profitable than restaurants will sell the used oil and not give it away.

[sausageseller]

They already sell the oil. The large users all sell their oil. It is called "yellow grease". Their is even a "black market" for the oil. Guy sell it off the collection trucks to other companies , cheating their own employers.

[DouglasKC]

They already sell the oil. The large users all sell their oil. It is called "yellow grease". Their is even a "black market" for the oil. Guy sell it off the collection trucks to other companies , cheating their own employers.

Thanks, I didn't know that. The couple of specials I've seen imply that the people who use biodiesel get it for free from restaurants and such.

[SuziQ]

Good article! It's good to see folks trying lots of alternatives. Maybe it would never work on a large scale, but if enough folks do it in small scale, it could be a good thing for their own bottom lines!

[sausageseller]

Yes small producers try to get it for free. (like me!)

Larger companies have negotiating power.

Small used oil producers usually pay for the pick up service, so they are more inclined to work a collection deal with you.

[R W Reactionairy]

"Do you know about how much fryer oil it takes to make the amount these guys appear to make in their garage? How much can a restaurant produce? ANd it doesn't sound like they picked it up in a tanker truck."

I am not an expert [sorry if I gave that impression.] A friend has played around with it in his garage a bit.

Beyond that, I have no personal experience. OTOH every little bit helps and bio diesel from waste is unarguably a good fuel with a return on inputs is very high by any standard. The tree huggers like it ... those that value self sufficiency per se love it ... and those that are just looking for a cheaper way to get on down the road love it.

[wouldntbprudent]

Thanks.