Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Green Engineering to Reduce the Use of Petroleum Energy Resources. Phase I. Use of Sustainable Sources of Feedstocks for the Production of Biodiesel Fuel – An Undergraduate Educational Program
EPA Grant Number: SU833534Title: Green Engineering to Reduce the Use of Petroleum Energy Resources. Phase I. Use of Sustainable Sources of Feedstocks for the Production of Biodiesel Fuel – An Undergraduate Educational Program
Investigators: Lewis, John Barkley , Angelini, Mark A. , Johnson, Ryan A. , Lloyd, W. A. , Smith, Leland C. , Redding, Aaron J. , Stephens, Corey J. , Perez, J. M. , Goodwin, James P. , Kipp, Dylan R. , McCowan, Matthew W.
Institution: Pennsylvania State University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: August 1, 2007 through July 31, 2008
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2007) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Nanotechnology , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The primary objective of this Project is to provide undergraduate students with a real life, hands-on engineering project that focuses on chemical engineering principles, environmentally friendly fluids, and sustainable resources to reduce the use of petroleum derived fuels.
Prior studies have used soybean oil or waste cooking oils as the starting feedstocks . Phase-1 of this study utilized virgin plant oils, (including those from 3rd World countries), animal fats, waste cooking oil (available on campus) and local restaurants are utilized as feed stocks. This program is part of an ongoing sustainability project in the Chemical Engineering Department at The Pennsylvania State University. It has a long-range goal of changing the University “Green”.
Nine undergraduate and two graduate students are currently involved in the biodiesel program. The program to turn the University “Green” involves the collaboration of students, staff and faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Farm Operations, Fuel Sciences Energy Institute, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Health and Safety and Chemical Engineering. Fuels and lubricants based on renewable resources are in use farm tractors, hydraulic systems of farm implements, and campus elevators for three years. The program has goals to construct a mobile unit to disseminate process and safety information to farmers and small “Home Brewers”. A continuous batch unit to supply all biodiesel needs of the university is also planned.
Eight tasks were proposed based on previous experience and discussions with other researchers, including scientists at the USDA Laboratories in Peoria, IL and Wyndmore, PA. The tasks included both short term and long term goals. The following summary of progress, findings, and outputs/outcomes indicates significant progress has been made on the goals. The group has participated in several energy and sustainability fairs and farm shows including the Annual PA Farm Show in Harrisburg, PA in January and the Annual Ag Progress Days at Penn State in August.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
SHORT TERM TASKS:
- Compare the properties of biodiesel produced from other plant oils that are available in some of the third-world countries or are not in competition as a food product. Examine how the differences relate to the chemical composition of the oils and their range of use in less temperate climates. The group focused on animal fat, used cooking oil, cuphea and jatropha oils and animal fat. One student has compared fuel made from corn, soy, olives, and canola oils.
- This semester we have researched, developed and tested a method for acid catalyzed esterification of free fatty acids (FFAs) in Jatropha and Cuphea oil. This is necessary for the subsequent transesterification reaction to occur uninhibited. The titration method used to access acid content uses a natural indicator solution made with turmeric powder. Jatropha oil is non-edible and can be grown side by side with other food crops.
- The low temperature properties of biodiesel are known to be poorer than petro-diesel. Studies this winter examined some 16 additives at 0°C. None significantly changed the cloud or pour-points of the blends. One finding in the tests was that the new ultra low sulfur diesel fuel contributes to the problem. An ASTM type low temperature bath was recently obtained and evaluation of several additives is underway. It was found that the best way to run biodiesel in our tractors in the winter is to blend the fuel with kerosene.
- Two new laboratory units have been constructed. One is a 0.5 Liter reactor and a 1-Liter high pressure unit. An experiment using the 0.5 L laboratory reactor was incorporated into the Chemical Engineering Departments Unit Operations laboratory that is a required course for all undergraduates. One of the biodiesel team was involved in developing the instruction for the experiment. Some quick quality control tests (flash point, TLC, and FTIR) are incorporated into the experiment. Some typical FTIR data are found in the Appendix.
- Other outcomes of the project include request for presentations, visitors interested in producing biodiesel, and interest by other colleges to pattern a program similar to PSU. The student group has presented the program to an industry department evaluation committee (IPAC). A very informative website was constructed by the biodiesel team this year. One paper was presented by the undergraduate team at a Crossover Meeting at Penn State last fall.
- We are in the process of investigating various test methods and quick tests to insure small batches of biodiesel fuel produced meet ASTM Test Method D 6751 and BQ9000 quality standards.
Oil from the seed of the jatropha curcas plant has excellent potential as a source for biodiesel production. This plant grows well in arid conditions and is resistant to insects and animals. It is used in Africa and India as a natural fence to contain cattle. The plant is toxic and animals do not eat the leaves or plant. Since jatropha curcas will grow well in many areas of the world that are impoverished, it could serve as a cash crop to aid the poor populations that inhabit these regions. It is non-edible oil, and would not compete as a food source. We obtained Jathropa Oil from two sources one had a high acid no. (13 mg KOH/g. Oil) and had to be pretreated before transesterification. The second sample had a low acid number, less than 2, and was transesterified directly. The products were treated with a new ion-exchange process step and produced a good quality biodiesel.
Free Fatty Acid content of some oils:
Oil |
Canola |
Rapeseed |
Soy |
Jatropha |
Cuphea |
FFA (% mass in oil) |
.4 - 1.2 |
.5 - 1.2 |
.5 - 1.6 |
14 |
5 |
Data taken from Canola Council1 and our own titration experiments
Data taken from Canola Council1 and our own titration experiments Cuphea is basically a weed, it has poor yields per acre but has an interesting composition of fatty acids. The plant oil is high in C12 and C14 carbon chain fatty acids. These are of interest because they are more similar to diesel fuel with and average C14 – C16 hydrocarbon chain. The oil (4.9 cSt at 40°C) produced a biodiesel fuel with a viscosity similar to petrodiesel.
Viscosity of pure B100
Jatropha oil also has more carbon-carbon double bonds resulting in better cold-flow properties. Cuphea oil also has desirable cold-flow properties and field trials in the Midwest suggest the crop could be grown in a corn and soybean rotation using the same farm equipment.
On a smaller scope, this esterification method we have developed will allow our group to make a greater contribution to Penn State’s sustainability. Waste cooking oil tends to have high FFA content, so this method will allow us to easily react large quantities of waste oil from campus dining halls and area restaurants.
NOTE: This Phase 1 Project is still in progress and the final report will be submitted in July.
Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies
Two objectives have been set for Phase II. One is there is a large increase in the number of farmers and coops that are making biodiesel for use in there vehicles or farm equipments. We plan to build a 55-gallon mobile unit mounted on a trailor to demonstrate the best process for making biodiesel to “”home brewers”. The emphasis will be on fuel quality, safety and proper disposal of waste products. Development of rapid, inexpensive biodiesel quality check tests will be developed for this educational objective.
Second, we are in the planning stages of building a 200-400 gallon continuous biodiesel processing unit to transesterify all waste cooking oil on campus and supplying our farm operations and campus needs for biodiesel.
Appendix: Typical FTIR results.
Jatropha Biodiesel Feedstock:
Jatropha - biodiesel process using ion-exchange resins to improve quality of product.
- Unaceptable Biodiesel Product - contains high water/MeOH levels
- Product after cleaning sample with ion-exchange resin.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Engineering, biodiesel processing, sustainable & renewable feed stocks, petrodiesel energy replacement, transportation,The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.