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1 | P a g e
An Investigation into Establishing a Biodiesel Program at UIC
Allan Fluharty NBCT
Science Teacher Prosser Career Academy High School
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Science Teacher Research Program
NSF RET Grant (EEC 0743068 and EEC 1132694)
2 | P a g e
Acknowledgements
Faculty Advisor Professor Thomas L Theis
Director Institute for Environmental Science and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago
Professor Andreas A Linninger
Director Chicago Science Teacher Research Program
University of Illinois at Chicago
Seon Kim PhD Candidate
Manager Chicago Science Teacher Research Program
University of Illinois at Chicago
Professor Cindy Klein-Banai
Associate Chancellor for Sustainability Office of Sustainability
University of Illinois at Chicago
Richard D Anderson
Interim Director for Health and Safety Environmental Health and Safety Office
University of Illinois at Chicago
Zach Waickman
Biodiesel Lab Manager Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy
Loyola University Chicago
Adam Hage
Research Fellow Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy
Loyola University Chicago
Pete Probst
President Chicago Biofuels LLC
3 | P a g e
Contents
Acknowledgements 2
Introduction 4
Part 1 Current discussion on using biofuels as alternative fuels 5
Peak Oil and Energy Depletion 5
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming 5
Life cycle assessments of biofuels 6
Ethical Issues of Biofuels 7
The Significance of Biofuels 8
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant 9
Fuel-health dilemma 10
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel 12
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry 12
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO 15
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct 18
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC 19
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities 19
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN) 20
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC 21
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC 22
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo 23
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs 24
Concluding Remarks 25
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum 26
Works Cited 27
4 | P a g e
Introduction
This Research Experience for Teachers (RET) project grew out of my interest in promoting the
use of biodiesel as a substitute for petroleum diesel There is great interest in developing
alternative forms of energy due to a shrinking supply of crude oil and the widespread recognition
that global warming is cause by their combustion To promote interest in alternative fuels among
my students I obtained a grant from the Toyota Motors company to develop a biodiesel club at
my high school During the 2011 school year my students used this funding to design and build
a 40-gallon biodiesel processor In June my students successfully manufactured a batch of
biodiesel using waste vegetable oil from the culinary arts program at my school
In addition to starting the biodiesel club I started to meet individuals and learn about
organizations working to promote biodiesel I came to appreciate how little I knew and how
much more I wanted to know about biodiesel Subsequently I proposed that my RET research
focus on biodiesel After nosing around campus for ideas I learned through the UIC Office of
Sustainability that UIC had initiated a biodiesel program in 2009 Students and staff had in fact
built an 80-gallon biodiesel processor in a hazardous materials handling facility on the west-side
of campus The project had become dormant but there was interest in moving it forward
Ultimately I choose to focus my RET project on the following goals
Become familiar with the current academic discussion on the use of biofuels as an
alternative fuel source
Increase my understanding of biodiesel reaction chemistry
Develop recommendations that will advance the UIC biodiesel project
Determine the availability and quality of WVO from the UIC community
Develop a series of lessons that can be used to teach high school students about biodiesel
production
The initial proposal was open-ended and I am grateful to the RET program and Dr Theis my
RET advisor that I was given the leeway to develop my project
5 | P a g e
Part 1 Current discussion on using biofuels as alternative fuels Peak Oil and Energy Depletion
Modern society is dependent on readily available energy A primary source of energy
particularly for transportation is obtained from crude oil In the United States we currently
import over 50 of our petroleum a number that will inevitably increase as the worldrsquos reserves
of crude oil are depleted
Figure 1 Annual Production Scenarios with 2 Percent Growth Rates and Different Resource Levels (Decline RP=10)
The US Geological Society estimates that crude oil supplies will begin to decline well within
the lifetime of my high school students somewhere between 2026 and 2047 (see Figure 1)
Should this occur and without a viable alternative fuel the growth of and development of
modern economies will be restricted
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
A second reason for societies increasing interest in alternative fuels is global warming caused by
the collection of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earthrsquos atmosphere The major
source of greenhouse gases is the combustion of fossil fuels
The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 Without the greenhouse effect
Earth would be a frozen ball in space incapable of supporting life as we know it While the
majority of gases in our atmosphere are oxygen and nitrogen a small fraction consists of
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxides as well as other trace
gases The greenhouse effect works like a blanket around the earth by trapping heat radiated off
6 | P a g e
the surface of the planet itrsquos the same as putting on extra layers of clothing and doing so you trap
more heat inside the layers Since the beginning of the industrial age nitrous oxides have
increased 18 carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion by 39 and methane 148 By
adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere man has altered the natural cycles Earth is
getting warmer This warming also increases the temperature of the ocean which evaporates
more water also a significant greenhouse gas (Reisman 2010)
While average global temperatures will fluctuate from year to year scientists focus on the
decadal trend Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000 As
greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide continue to rise scientists expect the
long-term temperature increase to continue (see Figure 2)
Figure 2 Global temperatures since 1880 (data source NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Image credit NASA Earth Observatory Robert Simmon)
Global warming will impose significant cost to society ranging from a rise in sea level to an
increase in the frequency and severity of droughts storms heat waves and floods to the
destruction of fragile ecosystems and massive species extinction
Since the US transportation sector is responsible for more than one-third of man-made carbon
dioxide emissions in this country considerable attention has been focused on finding alternatives
to burning fossil fuels
Life cycle assessments of biofuels
Depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the need to reduce CO2 emissions in order to limit global
warming has lead to the emergence of the green movement and to research on alternative sources
of energy Among those alternatives are biofuels for internal combustion engines It is thought
that biofuels have a lower impact on the environment compared to fossil and other fuels As a
byproduct of plant and animal oils biofuels are considered to be ldquocarbon neutralrdquo in that they do
not add to atmospheric carbon because they are part of Earthrsquos carbon cycle of sequestration of
carbon by plants
7 | P a g e
A viable alternative to petroleum diesel must meet four criteria show superior environmental
benefits over the fossil fuel it displaces be economically competitive with that fuel be
producible in sufficient quantities to make a meaningful impact on energy demands and provide
a net energy gain over the energy sources used to produce it In order to investigate these fuels
against the criteria researchers from the University of Minnesota and St Olaf College led by
ecology professor G David Tilman conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of
these biofuels (Manuel 2007)
Life Cycle Assessment is a tool for quantitative assessment of materials energy flows and
environmental impacts of products services and technologies There is a broad agreement in the
scientific community that LCA is one of the best methodologies for the evaluation of the
environmental burdens associated with biofuel production by identifying energy and materials
used as well as waste and emissions released to the environment moreover it also allows an
identification of opportunities for environmental improvement (Sanz-Requena 2011)
The Tilman study evaluated two predominant alternative transportation fuels in the United
States corn grain ethanol and soybean biodiesel The study used data on farm yields commodity
and fuel-prices farm energy and chemical inputs production plant efficiencies production of
coproducts greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects The study also included
energy required to manufacture the machinery used to farm corn and soybeans Study included
the following findings (Hill 2006)
Ethanol yields 25 net energy gain (eg biofuel energy content exceeds fossil fuel
energy inputs) whereas biodiesel yields 93 more
Compared with ethanol biodiesel releases just 10 83 and 13 of the agricultural
nitrogen phosphorus and pesticide pollutants respectively per net energy gain
Relative to the fossil fuels they displace greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12 by
the production and combustion of ethanol and 41 by biodiesel Biodiesel also releases
less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol These advantages of biodiesel over
ethanol come from lower agricultural inputs and more efficient conversion of feedstock
to fuel
Biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither significantly reduces reliance on
petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply There was a call for the development
of biofuels based on nonfood crops such as prairie grasses and woody plants which can be
converted into synthetic hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol To understand why the report
recommended using nonfood crops it is useful to investigate the ethical issues that arise in the
development of biofuels
Ethical Issues of Biofuels
The focus of this report is to explore the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel However
biodiesel is part of a more general category of biofuels that also includes corn ethanol In the last
ten years federal incentives have created a market for these biofuels This section includes a
discussion of ethical issues of biofuels My goal is to build an ethical justification for the pursuit
of biodiesel but not for corn ethanol
8 | P a g e
Food-Fuel Trade-off
Because biofuels are made using materials from plants or animals their development will have a
consequence on agriculture and the food supply Commodities like corn sugar and vegetable oil
can be used either as food animal feed or to make biofuels The food vs fuel dilemma asks
whether it is appropriate to divert agricultural resources away from the food supply when people
are starving in the world A compelling example of the dilemma occurred 2008 after the US
government mandated that part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into
cleaner-burning gasoline This caused a food shortage when US farmers diverted corn crops
from food production into the more lucrative biofuels market contributing to a jump in prices
and sparking food riots in Haiti Bangladesh Egypt and Mexico It is quite possible that this
situation may be repeated in the near future due In 2012 gasoline refiners will use some 132
billion gallons of ethanol which will consume some 40 of the corn crop This is taking place
during a surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the US in more than half a century
(Jegarajah 2012)
Fuel-Nature Trade-off
The fuel-nature dilemma explores ethical questions that pertain to appropriate land use First
people value land for different reasons ranging from farming to recreation to aesthetic
appreciation Another viewpoint is that animals plants and ecosystems have an intrinsic value
entirely apart from their use by human beings That said it is important to acknowledge that
human activities can irreparably harm nature and that society holds a collective obligation to
protect environments for future generations
The fuel-nature debate can be framed by a discussion of the agrarian ideals of the late 18th
and
early 19th
century Thomas Jefferson promoted agrarian ideals of self reliance family farms and
creation of an agricultural ecosystem that lived within environmental constraints In present time
there is evidence of a revival of agrarian ideals in organic farming community gardens and
farmers markets A reliance on local sources of natural foods might also provide motivation to
use arable land to produce biomass for transportation fuels Indeed it is conceivable that people
could come to see their use of fuels through the lens of sustainability providing a direct link to
agrarian ideals (Thompson 2008)
The Significance of Biofuels
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have provided figures to
demonstrate the non-significant effect of biofuels on the global economy (Bergsma 2006) The
FAO calculated that worldwide 4188 million km2 of land is available for agriculture although
just 1506 million km2 are in use and only 011 million km
2 are used for biofuels production
today which is no more than 1 of that area The FAO estimates that in 2030 0325 million km2
will be used for biofuels production which is no more than 2 of total agricultural land use
Nevertheless there is discussion of ways to free up land for the production of biofuels One
would be to use non-edible crops grown on marginal lands to provide biodiesel feedstock This
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
2 | P a g e
Acknowledgements
Faculty Advisor Professor Thomas L Theis
Director Institute for Environmental Science and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago
Professor Andreas A Linninger
Director Chicago Science Teacher Research Program
University of Illinois at Chicago
Seon Kim PhD Candidate
Manager Chicago Science Teacher Research Program
University of Illinois at Chicago
Professor Cindy Klein-Banai
Associate Chancellor for Sustainability Office of Sustainability
University of Illinois at Chicago
Richard D Anderson
Interim Director for Health and Safety Environmental Health and Safety Office
University of Illinois at Chicago
Zach Waickman
Biodiesel Lab Manager Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy
Loyola University Chicago
Adam Hage
Research Fellow Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy
Loyola University Chicago
Pete Probst
President Chicago Biofuels LLC
3 | P a g e
Contents
Acknowledgements 2
Introduction 4
Part 1 Current discussion on using biofuels as alternative fuels 5
Peak Oil and Energy Depletion 5
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming 5
Life cycle assessments of biofuels 6
Ethical Issues of Biofuels 7
The Significance of Biofuels 8
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant 9
Fuel-health dilemma 10
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel 12
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry 12
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO 15
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct 18
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC 19
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities 19
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN) 20
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC 21
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC 22
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo 23
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs 24
Concluding Remarks 25
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum 26
Works Cited 27
4 | P a g e
Introduction
This Research Experience for Teachers (RET) project grew out of my interest in promoting the
use of biodiesel as a substitute for petroleum diesel There is great interest in developing
alternative forms of energy due to a shrinking supply of crude oil and the widespread recognition
that global warming is cause by their combustion To promote interest in alternative fuels among
my students I obtained a grant from the Toyota Motors company to develop a biodiesel club at
my high school During the 2011 school year my students used this funding to design and build
a 40-gallon biodiesel processor In June my students successfully manufactured a batch of
biodiesel using waste vegetable oil from the culinary arts program at my school
In addition to starting the biodiesel club I started to meet individuals and learn about
organizations working to promote biodiesel I came to appreciate how little I knew and how
much more I wanted to know about biodiesel Subsequently I proposed that my RET research
focus on biodiesel After nosing around campus for ideas I learned through the UIC Office of
Sustainability that UIC had initiated a biodiesel program in 2009 Students and staff had in fact
built an 80-gallon biodiesel processor in a hazardous materials handling facility on the west-side
of campus The project had become dormant but there was interest in moving it forward
Ultimately I choose to focus my RET project on the following goals
Become familiar with the current academic discussion on the use of biofuels as an
alternative fuel source
Increase my understanding of biodiesel reaction chemistry
Develop recommendations that will advance the UIC biodiesel project
Determine the availability and quality of WVO from the UIC community
Develop a series of lessons that can be used to teach high school students about biodiesel
production
The initial proposal was open-ended and I am grateful to the RET program and Dr Theis my
RET advisor that I was given the leeway to develop my project
5 | P a g e
Part 1 Current discussion on using biofuels as alternative fuels Peak Oil and Energy Depletion
Modern society is dependent on readily available energy A primary source of energy
particularly for transportation is obtained from crude oil In the United States we currently
import over 50 of our petroleum a number that will inevitably increase as the worldrsquos reserves
of crude oil are depleted
Figure 1 Annual Production Scenarios with 2 Percent Growth Rates and Different Resource Levels (Decline RP=10)
The US Geological Society estimates that crude oil supplies will begin to decline well within
the lifetime of my high school students somewhere between 2026 and 2047 (see Figure 1)
Should this occur and without a viable alternative fuel the growth of and development of
modern economies will be restricted
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
A second reason for societies increasing interest in alternative fuels is global warming caused by
the collection of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earthrsquos atmosphere The major
source of greenhouse gases is the combustion of fossil fuels
The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 Without the greenhouse effect
Earth would be a frozen ball in space incapable of supporting life as we know it While the
majority of gases in our atmosphere are oxygen and nitrogen a small fraction consists of
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxides as well as other trace
gases The greenhouse effect works like a blanket around the earth by trapping heat radiated off
6 | P a g e
the surface of the planet itrsquos the same as putting on extra layers of clothing and doing so you trap
more heat inside the layers Since the beginning of the industrial age nitrous oxides have
increased 18 carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion by 39 and methane 148 By
adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere man has altered the natural cycles Earth is
getting warmer This warming also increases the temperature of the ocean which evaporates
more water also a significant greenhouse gas (Reisman 2010)
While average global temperatures will fluctuate from year to year scientists focus on the
decadal trend Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000 As
greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide continue to rise scientists expect the
long-term temperature increase to continue (see Figure 2)
Figure 2 Global temperatures since 1880 (data source NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Image credit NASA Earth Observatory Robert Simmon)
Global warming will impose significant cost to society ranging from a rise in sea level to an
increase in the frequency and severity of droughts storms heat waves and floods to the
destruction of fragile ecosystems and massive species extinction
Since the US transportation sector is responsible for more than one-third of man-made carbon
dioxide emissions in this country considerable attention has been focused on finding alternatives
to burning fossil fuels
Life cycle assessments of biofuels
Depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the need to reduce CO2 emissions in order to limit global
warming has lead to the emergence of the green movement and to research on alternative sources
of energy Among those alternatives are biofuels for internal combustion engines It is thought
that biofuels have a lower impact on the environment compared to fossil and other fuels As a
byproduct of plant and animal oils biofuels are considered to be ldquocarbon neutralrdquo in that they do
not add to atmospheric carbon because they are part of Earthrsquos carbon cycle of sequestration of
carbon by plants
7 | P a g e
A viable alternative to petroleum diesel must meet four criteria show superior environmental
benefits over the fossil fuel it displaces be economically competitive with that fuel be
producible in sufficient quantities to make a meaningful impact on energy demands and provide
a net energy gain over the energy sources used to produce it In order to investigate these fuels
against the criteria researchers from the University of Minnesota and St Olaf College led by
ecology professor G David Tilman conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of
these biofuels (Manuel 2007)
Life Cycle Assessment is a tool for quantitative assessment of materials energy flows and
environmental impacts of products services and technologies There is a broad agreement in the
scientific community that LCA is one of the best methodologies for the evaluation of the
environmental burdens associated with biofuel production by identifying energy and materials
used as well as waste and emissions released to the environment moreover it also allows an
identification of opportunities for environmental improvement (Sanz-Requena 2011)
The Tilman study evaluated two predominant alternative transportation fuels in the United
States corn grain ethanol and soybean biodiesel The study used data on farm yields commodity
and fuel-prices farm energy and chemical inputs production plant efficiencies production of
coproducts greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects The study also included
energy required to manufacture the machinery used to farm corn and soybeans Study included
the following findings (Hill 2006)
Ethanol yields 25 net energy gain (eg biofuel energy content exceeds fossil fuel
energy inputs) whereas biodiesel yields 93 more
Compared with ethanol biodiesel releases just 10 83 and 13 of the agricultural
nitrogen phosphorus and pesticide pollutants respectively per net energy gain
Relative to the fossil fuels they displace greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12 by
the production and combustion of ethanol and 41 by biodiesel Biodiesel also releases
less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol These advantages of biodiesel over
ethanol come from lower agricultural inputs and more efficient conversion of feedstock
to fuel
Biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither significantly reduces reliance on
petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply There was a call for the development
of biofuels based on nonfood crops such as prairie grasses and woody plants which can be
converted into synthetic hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol To understand why the report
recommended using nonfood crops it is useful to investigate the ethical issues that arise in the
development of biofuels
Ethical Issues of Biofuels
The focus of this report is to explore the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel However
biodiesel is part of a more general category of biofuels that also includes corn ethanol In the last
ten years federal incentives have created a market for these biofuels This section includes a
discussion of ethical issues of biofuels My goal is to build an ethical justification for the pursuit
of biodiesel but not for corn ethanol
8 | P a g e
Food-Fuel Trade-off
Because biofuels are made using materials from plants or animals their development will have a
consequence on agriculture and the food supply Commodities like corn sugar and vegetable oil
can be used either as food animal feed or to make biofuels The food vs fuel dilemma asks
whether it is appropriate to divert agricultural resources away from the food supply when people
are starving in the world A compelling example of the dilemma occurred 2008 after the US
government mandated that part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into
cleaner-burning gasoline This caused a food shortage when US farmers diverted corn crops
from food production into the more lucrative biofuels market contributing to a jump in prices
and sparking food riots in Haiti Bangladesh Egypt and Mexico It is quite possible that this
situation may be repeated in the near future due In 2012 gasoline refiners will use some 132
billion gallons of ethanol which will consume some 40 of the corn crop This is taking place
during a surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the US in more than half a century
(Jegarajah 2012)
Fuel-Nature Trade-off
The fuel-nature dilemma explores ethical questions that pertain to appropriate land use First
people value land for different reasons ranging from farming to recreation to aesthetic
appreciation Another viewpoint is that animals plants and ecosystems have an intrinsic value
entirely apart from their use by human beings That said it is important to acknowledge that
human activities can irreparably harm nature and that society holds a collective obligation to
protect environments for future generations
The fuel-nature debate can be framed by a discussion of the agrarian ideals of the late 18th
and
early 19th
century Thomas Jefferson promoted agrarian ideals of self reliance family farms and
creation of an agricultural ecosystem that lived within environmental constraints In present time
there is evidence of a revival of agrarian ideals in organic farming community gardens and
farmers markets A reliance on local sources of natural foods might also provide motivation to
use arable land to produce biomass for transportation fuels Indeed it is conceivable that people
could come to see their use of fuels through the lens of sustainability providing a direct link to
agrarian ideals (Thompson 2008)
The Significance of Biofuels
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have provided figures to
demonstrate the non-significant effect of biofuels on the global economy (Bergsma 2006) The
FAO calculated that worldwide 4188 million km2 of land is available for agriculture although
just 1506 million km2 are in use and only 011 million km
2 are used for biofuels production
today which is no more than 1 of that area The FAO estimates that in 2030 0325 million km2
will be used for biofuels production which is no more than 2 of total agricultural land use
Nevertheless there is discussion of ways to free up land for the production of biofuels One
would be to use non-edible crops grown on marginal lands to provide biodiesel feedstock This
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
3 | P a g e
Contents
Acknowledgements 2
Introduction 4
Part 1 Current discussion on using biofuels as alternative fuels 5
Peak Oil and Energy Depletion 5
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming 5
Life cycle assessments of biofuels 6
Ethical Issues of Biofuels 7
The Significance of Biofuels 8
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant 9
Fuel-health dilemma 10
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel 12
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry 12
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO 15
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct 18
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC 19
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities 19
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN) 20
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC 21
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC 22
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo 23
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs 24
Concluding Remarks 25
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum 26
Works Cited 27
4 | P a g e
Introduction
This Research Experience for Teachers (RET) project grew out of my interest in promoting the
use of biodiesel as a substitute for petroleum diesel There is great interest in developing
alternative forms of energy due to a shrinking supply of crude oil and the widespread recognition
that global warming is cause by their combustion To promote interest in alternative fuels among
my students I obtained a grant from the Toyota Motors company to develop a biodiesel club at
my high school During the 2011 school year my students used this funding to design and build
a 40-gallon biodiesel processor In June my students successfully manufactured a batch of
biodiesel using waste vegetable oil from the culinary arts program at my school
In addition to starting the biodiesel club I started to meet individuals and learn about
organizations working to promote biodiesel I came to appreciate how little I knew and how
much more I wanted to know about biodiesel Subsequently I proposed that my RET research
focus on biodiesel After nosing around campus for ideas I learned through the UIC Office of
Sustainability that UIC had initiated a biodiesel program in 2009 Students and staff had in fact
built an 80-gallon biodiesel processor in a hazardous materials handling facility on the west-side
of campus The project had become dormant but there was interest in moving it forward
Ultimately I choose to focus my RET project on the following goals
Become familiar with the current academic discussion on the use of biofuels as an
alternative fuel source
Increase my understanding of biodiesel reaction chemistry
Develop recommendations that will advance the UIC biodiesel project
Determine the availability and quality of WVO from the UIC community
Develop a series of lessons that can be used to teach high school students about biodiesel
production
The initial proposal was open-ended and I am grateful to the RET program and Dr Theis my
RET advisor that I was given the leeway to develop my project
5 | P a g e
Part 1 Current discussion on using biofuels as alternative fuels Peak Oil and Energy Depletion
Modern society is dependent on readily available energy A primary source of energy
particularly for transportation is obtained from crude oil In the United States we currently
import over 50 of our petroleum a number that will inevitably increase as the worldrsquos reserves
of crude oil are depleted
Figure 1 Annual Production Scenarios with 2 Percent Growth Rates and Different Resource Levels (Decline RP=10)
The US Geological Society estimates that crude oil supplies will begin to decline well within
the lifetime of my high school students somewhere between 2026 and 2047 (see Figure 1)
Should this occur and without a viable alternative fuel the growth of and development of
modern economies will be restricted
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
A second reason for societies increasing interest in alternative fuels is global warming caused by
the collection of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earthrsquos atmosphere The major
source of greenhouse gases is the combustion of fossil fuels
The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 Without the greenhouse effect
Earth would be a frozen ball in space incapable of supporting life as we know it While the
majority of gases in our atmosphere are oxygen and nitrogen a small fraction consists of
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxides as well as other trace
gases The greenhouse effect works like a blanket around the earth by trapping heat radiated off
6 | P a g e
the surface of the planet itrsquos the same as putting on extra layers of clothing and doing so you trap
more heat inside the layers Since the beginning of the industrial age nitrous oxides have
increased 18 carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion by 39 and methane 148 By
adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere man has altered the natural cycles Earth is
getting warmer This warming also increases the temperature of the ocean which evaporates
more water also a significant greenhouse gas (Reisman 2010)
While average global temperatures will fluctuate from year to year scientists focus on the
decadal trend Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000 As
greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide continue to rise scientists expect the
long-term temperature increase to continue (see Figure 2)
Figure 2 Global temperatures since 1880 (data source NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Image credit NASA Earth Observatory Robert Simmon)
Global warming will impose significant cost to society ranging from a rise in sea level to an
increase in the frequency and severity of droughts storms heat waves and floods to the
destruction of fragile ecosystems and massive species extinction
Since the US transportation sector is responsible for more than one-third of man-made carbon
dioxide emissions in this country considerable attention has been focused on finding alternatives
to burning fossil fuels
Life cycle assessments of biofuels
Depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the need to reduce CO2 emissions in order to limit global
warming has lead to the emergence of the green movement and to research on alternative sources
of energy Among those alternatives are biofuels for internal combustion engines It is thought
that biofuels have a lower impact on the environment compared to fossil and other fuels As a
byproduct of plant and animal oils biofuels are considered to be ldquocarbon neutralrdquo in that they do
not add to atmospheric carbon because they are part of Earthrsquos carbon cycle of sequestration of
carbon by plants
7 | P a g e
A viable alternative to petroleum diesel must meet four criteria show superior environmental
benefits over the fossil fuel it displaces be economically competitive with that fuel be
producible in sufficient quantities to make a meaningful impact on energy demands and provide
a net energy gain over the energy sources used to produce it In order to investigate these fuels
against the criteria researchers from the University of Minnesota and St Olaf College led by
ecology professor G David Tilman conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of
these biofuels (Manuel 2007)
Life Cycle Assessment is a tool for quantitative assessment of materials energy flows and
environmental impacts of products services and technologies There is a broad agreement in the
scientific community that LCA is one of the best methodologies for the evaluation of the
environmental burdens associated with biofuel production by identifying energy and materials
used as well as waste and emissions released to the environment moreover it also allows an
identification of opportunities for environmental improvement (Sanz-Requena 2011)
The Tilman study evaluated two predominant alternative transportation fuels in the United
States corn grain ethanol and soybean biodiesel The study used data on farm yields commodity
and fuel-prices farm energy and chemical inputs production plant efficiencies production of
coproducts greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects The study also included
energy required to manufacture the machinery used to farm corn and soybeans Study included
the following findings (Hill 2006)
Ethanol yields 25 net energy gain (eg biofuel energy content exceeds fossil fuel
energy inputs) whereas biodiesel yields 93 more
Compared with ethanol biodiesel releases just 10 83 and 13 of the agricultural
nitrogen phosphorus and pesticide pollutants respectively per net energy gain
Relative to the fossil fuels they displace greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12 by
the production and combustion of ethanol and 41 by biodiesel Biodiesel also releases
less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol These advantages of biodiesel over
ethanol come from lower agricultural inputs and more efficient conversion of feedstock
to fuel
Biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither significantly reduces reliance on
petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply There was a call for the development
of biofuels based on nonfood crops such as prairie grasses and woody plants which can be
converted into synthetic hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol To understand why the report
recommended using nonfood crops it is useful to investigate the ethical issues that arise in the
development of biofuels
Ethical Issues of Biofuels
The focus of this report is to explore the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel However
biodiesel is part of a more general category of biofuels that also includes corn ethanol In the last
ten years federal incentives have created a market for these biofuels This section includes a
discussion of ethical issues of biofuels My goal is to build an ethical justification for the pursuit
of biodiesel but not for corn ethanol
8 | P a g e
Food-Fuel Trade-off
Because biofuels are made using materials from plants or animals their development will have a
consequence on agriculture and the food supply Commodities like corn sugar and vegetable oil
can be used either as food animal feed or to make biofuels The food vs fuel dilemma asks
whether it is appropriate to divert agricultural resources away from the food supply when people
are starving in the world A compelling example of the dilemma occurred 2008 after the US
government mandated that part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into
cleaner-burning gasoline This caused a food shortage when US farmers diverted corn crops
from food production into the more lucrative biofuels market contributing to a jump in prices
and sparking food riots in Haiti Bangladesh Egypt and Mexico It is quite possible that this
situation may be repeated in the near future due In 2012 gasoline refiners will use some 132
billion gallons of ethanol which will consume some 40 of the corn crop This is taking place
during a surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the US in more than half a century
(Jegarajah 2012)
Fuel-Nature Trade-off
The fuel-nature dilemma explores ethical questions that pertain to appropriate land use First
people value land for different reasons ranging from farming to recreation to aesthetic
appreciation Another viewpoint is that animals plants and ecosystems have an intrinsic value
entirely apart from their use by human beings That said it is important to acknowledge that
human activities can irreparably harm nature and that society holds a collective obligation to
protect environments for future generations
The fuel-nature debate can be framed by a discussion of the agrarian ideals of the late 18th
and
early 19th
century Thomas Jefferson promoted agrarian ideals of self reliance family farms and
creation of an agricultural ecosystem that lived within environmental constraints In present time
there is evidence of a revival of agrarian ideals in organic farming community gardens and
farmers markets A reliance on local sources of natural foods might also provide motivation to
use arable land to produce biomass for transportation fuels Indeed it is conceivable that people
could come to see their use of fuels through the lens of sustainability providing a direct link to
agrarian ideals (Thompson 2008)
The Significance of Biofuels
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have provided figures to
demonstrate the non-significant effect of biofuels on the global economy (Bergsma 2006) The
FAO calculated that worldwide 4188 million km2 of land is available for agriculture although
just 1506 million km2 are in use and only 011 million km
2 are used for biofuels production
today which is no more than 1 of that area The FAO estimates that in 2030 0325 million km2
will be used for biofuels production which is no more than 2 of total agricultural land use
Nevertheless there is discussion of ways to free up land for the production of biofuels One
would be to use non-edible crops grown on marginal lands to provide biodiesel feedstock This
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
4 | P a g e
Introduction
This Research Experience for Teachers (RET) project grew out of my interest in promoting the
use of biodiesel as a substitute for petroleum diesel There is great interest in developing
alternative forms of energy due to a shrinking supply of crude oil and the widespread recognition
that global warming is cause by their combustion To promote interest in alternative fuels among
my students I obtained a grant from the Toyota Motors company to develop a biodiesel club at
my high school During the 2011 school year my students used this funding to design and build
a 40-gallon biodiesel processor In June my students successfully manufactured a batch of
biodiesel using waste vegetable oil from the culinary arts program at my school
In addition to starting the biodiesel club I started to meet individuals and learn about
organizations working to promote biodiesel I came to appreciate how little I knew and how
much more I wanted to know about biodiesel Subsequently I proposed that my RET research
focus on biodiesel After nosing around campus for ideas I learned through the UIC Office of
Sustainability that UIC had initiated a biodiesel program in 2009 Students and staff had in fact
built an 80-gallon biodiesel processor in a hazardous materials handling facility on the west-side
of campus The project had become dormant but there was interest in moving it forward
Ultimately I choose to focus my RET project on the following goals
Become familiar with the current academic discussion on the use of biofuels as an
alternative fuel source
Increase my understanding of biodiesel reaction chemistry
Develop recommendations that will advance the UIC biodiesel project
Determine the availability and quality of WVO from the UIC community
Develop a series of lessons that can be used to teach high school students about biodiesel
production
The initial proposal was open-ended and I am grateful to the RET program and Dr Theis my
RET advisor that I was given the leeway to develop my project
5 | P a g e
Part 1 Current discussion on using biofuels as alternative fuels Peak Oil and Energy Depletion
Modern society is dependent on readily available energy A primary source of energy
particularly for transportation is obtained from crude oil In the United States we currently
import over 50 of our petroleum a number that will inevitably increase as the worldrsquos reserves
of crude oil are depleted
Figure 1 Annual Production Scenarios with 2 Percent Growth Rates and Different Resource Levels (Decline RP=10)
The US Geological Society estimates that crude oil supplies will begin to decline well within
the lifetime of my high school students somewhere between 2026 and 2047 (see Figure 1)
Should this occur and without a viable alternative fuel the growth of and development of
modern economies will be restricted
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
A second reason for societies increasing interest in alternative fuels is global warming caused by
the collection of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earthrsquos atmosphere The major
source of greenhouse gases is the combustion of fossil fuels
The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 Without the greenhouse effect
Earth would be a frozen ball in space incapable of supporting life as we know it While the
majority of gases in our atmosphere are oxygen and nitrogen a small fraction consists of
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxides as well as other trace
gases The greenhouse effect works like a blanket around the earth by trapping heat radiated off
6 | P a g e
the surface of the planet itrsquos the same as putting on extra layers of clothing and doing so you trap
more heat inside the layers Since the beginning of the industrial age nitrous oxides have
increased 18 carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion by 39 and methane 148 By
adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere man has altered the natural cycles Earth is
getting warmer This warming also increases the temperature of the ocean which evaporates
more water also a significant greenhouse gas (Reisman 2010)
While average global temperatures will fluctuate from year to year scientists focus on the
decadal trend Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000 As
greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide continue to rise scientists expect the
long-term temperature increase to continue (see Figure 2)
Figure 2 Global temperatures since 1880 (data source NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Image credit NASA Earth Observatory Robert Simmon)
Global warming will impose significant cost to society ranging from a rise in sea level to an
increase in the frequency and severity of droughts storms heat waves and floods to the
destruction of fragile ecosystems and massive species extinction
Since the US transportation sector is responsible for more than one-third of man-made carbon
dioxide emissions in this country considerable attention has been focused on finding alternatives
to burning fossil fuels
Life cycle assessments of biofuels
Depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the need to reduce CO2 emissions in order to limit global
warming has lead to the emergence of the green movement and to research on alternative sources
of energy Among those alternatives are biofuels for internal combustion engines It is thought
that biofuels have a lower impact on the environment compared to fossil and other fuels As a
byproduct of plant and animal oils biofuels are considered to be ldquocarbon neutralrdquo in that they do
not add to atmospheric carbon because they are part of Earthrsquos carbon cycle of sequestration of
carbon by plants
7 | P a g e
A viable alternative to petroleum diesel must meet four criteria show superior environmental
benefits over the fossil fuel it displaces be economically competitive with that fuel be
producible in sufficient quantities to make a meaningful impact on energy demands and provide
a net energy gain over the energy sources used to produce it In order to investigate these fuels
against the criteria researchers from the University of Minnesota and St Olaf College led by
ecology professor G David Tilman conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of
these biofuels (Manuel 2007)
Life Cycle Assessment is a tool for quantitative assessment of materials energy flows and
environmental impacts of products services and technologies There is a broad agreement in the
scientific community that LCA is one of the best methodologies for the evaluation of the
environmental burdens associated with biofuel production by identifying energy and materials
used as well as waste and emissions released to the environment moreover it also allows an
identification of opportunities for environmental improvement (Sanz-Requena 2011)
The Tilman study evaluated two predominant alternative transportation fuels in the United
States corn grain ethanol and soybean biodiesel The study used data on farm yields commodity
and fuel-prices farm energy and chemical inputs production plant efficiencies production of
coproducts greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects The study also included
energy required to manufacture the machinery used to farm corn and soybeans Study included
the following findings (Hill 2006)
Ethanol yields 25 net energy gain (eg biofuel energy content exceeds fossil fuel
energy inputs) whereas biodiesel yields 93 more
Compared with ethanol biodiesel releases just 10 83 and 13 of the agricultural
nitrogen phosphorus and pesticide pollutants respectively per net energy gain
Relative to the fossil fuels they displace greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12 by
the production and combustion of ethanol and 41 by biodiesel Biodiesel also releases
less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol These advantages of biodiesel over
ethanol come from lower agricultural inputs and more efficient conversion of feedstock
to fuel
Biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither significantly reduces reliance on
petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply There was a call for the development
of biofuels based on nonfood crops such as prairie grasses and woody plants which can be
converted into synthetic hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol To understand why the report
recommended using nonfood crops it is useful to investigate the ethical issues that arise in the
development of biofuels
Ethical Issues of Biofuels
The focus of this report is to explore the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel However
biodiesel is part of a more general category of biofuels that also includes corn ethanol In the last
ten years federal incentives have created a market for these biofuels This section includes a
discussion of ethical issues of biofuels My goal is to build an ethical justification for the pursuit
of biodiesel but not for corn ethanol
8 | P a g e
Food-Fuel Trade-off
Because biofuels are made using materials from plants or animals their development will have a
consequence on agriculture and the food supply Commodities like corn sugar and vegetable oil
can be used either as food animal feed or to make biofuels The food vs fuel dilemma asks
whether it is appropriate to divert agricultural resources away from the food supply when people
are starving in the world A compelling example of the dilemma occurred 2008 after the US
government mandated that part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into
cleaner-burning gasoline This caused a food shortage when US farmers diverted corn crops
from food production into the more lucrative biofuels market contributing to a jump in prices
and sparking food riots in Haiti Bangladesh Egypt and Mexico It is quite possible that this
situation may be repeated in the near future due In 2012 gasoline refiners will use some 132
billion gallons of ethanol which will consume some 40 of the corn crop This is taking place
during a surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the US in more than half a century
(Jegarajah 2012)
Fuel-Nature Trade-off
The fuel-nature dilemma explores ethical questions that pertain to appropriate land use First
people value land for different reasons ranging from farming to recreation to aesthetic
appreciation Another viewpoint is that animals plants and ecosystems have an intrinsic value
entirely apart from their use by human beings That said it is important to acknowledge that
human activities can irreparably harm nature and that society holds a collective obligation to
protect environments for future generations
The fuel-nature debate can be framed by a discussion of the agrarian ideals of the late 18th
and
early 19th
century Thomas Jefferson promoted agrarian ideals of self reliance family farms and
creation of an agricultural ecosystem that lived within environmental constraints In present time
there is evidence of a revival of agrarian ideals in organic farming community gardens and
farmers markets A reliance on local sources of natural foods might also provide motivation to
use arable land to produce biomass for transportation fuels Indeed it is conceivable that people
could come to see their use of fuels through the lens of sustainability providing a direct link to
agrarian ideals (Thompson 2008)
The Significance of Biofuels
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have provided figures to
demonstrate the non-significant effect of biofuels on the global economy (Bergsma 2006) The
FAO calculated that worldwide 4188 million km2 of land is available for agriculture although
just 1506 million km2 are in use and only 011 million km
2 are used for biofuels production
today which is no more than 1 of that area The FAO estimates that in 2030 0325 million km2
will be used for biofuels production which is no more than 2 of total agricultural land use
Nevertheless there is discussion of ways to free up land for the production of biofuels One
would be to use non-edible crops grown on marginal lands to provide biodiesel feedstock This
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
5 | P a g e
Part 1 Current discussion on using biofuels as alternative fuels Peak Oil and Energy Depletion
Modern society is dependent on readily available energy A primary source of energy
particularly for transportation is obtained from crude oil In the United States we currently
import over 50 of our petroleum a number that will inevitably increase as the worldrsquos reserves
of crude oil are depleted
Figure 1 Annual Production Scenarios with 2 Percent Growth Rates and Different Resource Levels (Decline RP=10)
The US Geological Society estimates that crude oil supplies will begin to decline well within
the lifetime of my high school students somewhere between 2026 and 2047 (see Figure 1)
Should this occur and without a viable alternative fuel the growth of and development of
modern economies will be restricted
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
A second reason for societies increasing interest in alternative fuels is global warming caused by
the collection of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earthrsquos atmosphere The major
source of greenhouse gases is the combustion of fossil fuels
The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 Without the greenhouse effect
Earth would be a frozen ball in space incapable of supporting life as we know it While the
majority of gases in our atmosphere are oxygen and nitrogen a small fraction consists of
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxides as well as other trace
gases The greenhouse effect works like a blanket around the earth by trapping heat radiated off
6 | P a g e
the surface of the planet itrsquos the same as putting on extra layers of clothing and doing so you trap
more heat inside the layers Since the beginning of the industrial age nitrous oxides have
increased 18 carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion by 39 and methane 148 By
adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere man has altered the natural cycles Earth is
getting warmer This warming also increases the temperature of the ocean which evaporates
more water also a significant greenhouse gas (Reisman 2010)
While average global temperatures will fluctuate from year to year scientists focus on the
decadal trend Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000 As
greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide continue to rise scientists expect the
long-term temperature increase to continue (see Figure 2)
Figure 2 Global temperatures since 1880 (data source NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Image credit NASA Earth Observatory Robert Simmon)
Global warming will impose significant cost to society ranging from a rise in sea level to an
increase in the frequency and severity of droughts storms heat waves and floods to the
destruction of fragile ecosystems and massive species extinction
Since the US transportation sector is responsible for more than one-third of man-made carbon
dioxide emissions in this country considerable attention has been focused on finding alternatives
to burning fossil fuels
Life cycle assessments of biofuels
Depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the need to reduce CO2 emissions in order to limit global
warming has lead to the emergence of the green movement and to research on alternative sources
of energy Among those alternatives are biofuels for internal combustion engines It is thought
that biofuels have a lower impact on the environment compared to fossil and other fuels As a
byproduct of plant and animal oils biofuels are considered to be ldquocarbon neutralrdquo in that they do
not add to atmospheric carbon because they are part of Earthrsquos carbon cycle of sequestration of
carbon by plants
7 | P a g e
A viable alternative to petroleum diesel must meet four criteria show superior environmental
benefits over the fossil fuel it displaces be economically competitive with that fuel be
producible in sufficient quantities to make a meaningful impact on energy demands and provide
a net energy gain over the energy sources used to produce it In order to investigate these fuels
against the criteria researchers from the University of Minnesota and St Olaf College led by
ecology professor G David Tilman conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of
these biofuels (Manuel 2007)
Life Cycle Assessment is a tool for quantitative assessment of materials energy flows and
environmental impacts of products services and technologies There is a broad agreement in the
scientific community that LCA is one of the best methodologies for the evaluation of the
environmental burdens associated with biofuel production by identifying energy and materials
used as well as waste and emissions released to the environment moreover it also allows an
identification of opportunities for environmental improvement (Sanz-Requena 2011)
The Tilman study evaluated two predominant alternative transportation fuels in the United
States corn grain ethanol and soybean biodiesel The study used data on farm yields commodity
and fuel-prices farm energy and chemical inputs production plant efficiencies production of
coproducts greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects The study also included
energy required to manufacture the machinery used to farm corn and soybeans Study included
the following findings (Hill 2006)
Ethanol yields 25 net energy gain (eg biofuel energy content exceeds fossil fuel
energy inputs) whereas biodiesel yields 93 more
Compared with ethanol biodiesel releases just 10 83 and 13 of the agricultural
nitrogen phosphorus and pesticide pollutants respectively per net energy gain
Relative to the fossil fuels they displace greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12 by
the production and combustion of ethanol and 41 by biodiesel Biodiesel also releases
less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol These advantages of biodiesel over
ethanol come from lower agricultural inputs and more efficient conversion of feedstock
to fuel
Biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither significantly reduces reliance on
petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply There was a call for the development
of biofuels based on nonfood crops such as prairie grasses and woody plants which can be
converted into synthetic hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol To understand why the report
recommended using nonfood crops it is useful to investigate the ethical issues that arise in the
development of biofuels
Ethical Issues of Biofuels
The focus of this report is to explore the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel However
biodiesel is part of a more general category of biofuels that also includes corn ethanol In the last
ten years federal incentives have created a market for these biofuels This section includes a
discussion of ethical issues of biofuels My goal is to build an ethical justification for the pursuit
of biodiesel but not for corn ethanol
8 | P a g e
Food-Fuel Trade-off
Because biofuels are made using materials from plants or animals their development will have a
consequence on agriculture and the food supply Commodities like corn sugar and vegetable oil
can be used either as food animal feed or to make biofuels The food vs fuel dilemma asks
whether it is appropriate to divert agricultural resources away from the food supply when people
are starving in the world A compelling example of the dilemma occurred 2008 after the US
government mandated that part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into
cleaner-burning gasoline This caused a food shortage when US farmers diverted corn crops
from food production into the more lucrative biofuels market contributing to a jump in prices
and sparking food riots in Haiti Bangladesh Egypt and Mexico It is quite possible that this
situation may be repeated in the near future due In 2012 gasoline refiners will use some 132
billion gallons of ethanol which will consume some 40 of the corn crop This is taking place
during a surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the US in more than half a century
(Jegarajah 2012)
Fuel-Nature Trade-off
The fuel-nature dilemma explores ethical questions that pertain to appropriate land use First
people value land for different reasons ranging from farming to recreation to aesthetic
appreciation Another viewpoint is that animals plants and ecosystems have an intrinsic value
entirely apart from their use by human beings That said it is important to acknowledge that
human activities can irreparably harm nature and that society holds a collective obligation to
protect environments for future generations
The fuel-nature debate can be framed by a discussion of the agrarian ideals of the late 18th
and
early 19th
century Thomas Jefferson promoted agrarian ideals of self reliance family farms and
creation of an agricultural ecosystem that lived within environmental constraints In present time
there is evidence of a revival of agrarian ideals in organic farming community gardens and
farmers markets A reliance on local sources of natural foods might also provide motivation to
use arable land to produce biomass for transportation fuels Indeed it is conceivable that people
could come to see their use of fuels through the lens of sustainability providing a direct link to
agrarian ideals (Thompson 2008)
The Significance of Biofuels
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have provided figures to
demonstrate the non-significant effect of biofuels on the global economy (Bergsma 2006) The
FAO calculated that worldwide 4188 million km2 of land is available for agriculture although
just 1506 million km2 are in use and only 011 million km
2 are used for biofuels production
today which is no more than 1 of that area The FAO estimates that in 2030 0325 million km2
will be used for biofuels production which is no more than 2 of total agricultural land use
Nevertheless there is discussion of ways to free up land for the production of biofuels One
would be to use non-edible crops grown on marginal lands to provide biodiesel feedstock This
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
6 | P a g e
the surface of the planet itrsquos the same as putting on extra layers of clothing and doing so you trap
more heat inside the layers Since the beginning of the industrial age nitrous oxides have
increased 18 carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion by 39 and methane 148 By
adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere man has altered the natural cycles Earth is
getting warmer This warming also increases the temperature of the ocean which evaporates
more water also a significant greenhouse gas (Reisman 2010)
While average global temperatures will fluctuate from year to year scientists focus on the
decadal trend Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000 As
greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide continue to rise scientists expect the
long-term temperature increase to continue (see Figure 2)
Figure 2 Global temperatures since 1880 (data source NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Image credit NASA Earth Observatory Robert Simmon)
Global warming will impose significant cost to society ranging from a rise in sea level to an
increase in the frequency and severity of droughts storms heat waves and floods to the
destruction of fragile ecosystems and massive species extinction
Since the US transportation sector is responsible for more than one-third of man-made carbon
dioxide emissions in this country considerable attention has been focused on finding alternatives
to burning fossil fuels
Life cycle assessments of biofuels
Depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the need to reduce CO2 emissions in order to limit global
warming has lead to the emergence of the green movement and to research on alternative sources
of energy Among those alternatives are biofuels for internal combustion engines It is thought
that biofuels have a lower impact on the environment compared to fossil and other fuels As a
byproduct of plant and animal oils biofuels are considered to be ldquocarbon neutralrdquo in that they do
not add to atmospheric carbon because they are part of Earthrsquos carbon cycle of sequestration of
carbon by plants
7 | P a g e
A viable alternative to petroleum diesel must meet four criteria show superior environmental
benefits over the fossil fuel it displaces be economically competitive with that fuel be
producible in sufficient quantities to make a meaningful impact on energy demands and provide
a net energy gain over the energy sources used to produce it In order to investigate these fuels
against the criteria researchers from the University of Minnesota and St Olaf College led by
ecology professor G David Tilman conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of
these biofuels (Manuel 2007)
Life Cycle Assessment is a tool for quantitative assessment of materials energy flows and
environmental impacts of products services and technologies There is a broad agreement in the
scientific community that LCA is one of the best methodologies for the evaluation of the
environmental burdens associated with biofuel production by identifying energy and materials
used as well as waste and emissions released to the environment moreover it also allows an
identification of opportunities for environmental improvement (Sanz-Requena 2011)
The Tilman study evaluated two predominant alternative transportation fuels in the United
States corn grain ethanol and soybean biodiesel The study used data on farm yields commodity
and fuel-prices farm energy and chemical inputs production plant efficiencies production of
coproducts greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects The study also included
energy required to manufacture the machinery used to farm corn and soybeans Study included
the following findings (Hill 2006)
Ethanol yields 25 net energy gain (eg biofuel energy content exceeds fossil fuel
energy inputs) whereas biodiesel yields 93 more
Compared with ethanol biodiesel releases just 10 83 and 13 of the agricultural
nitrogen phosphorus and pesticide pollutants respectively per net energy gain
Relative to the fossil fuels they displace greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12 by
the production and combustion of ethanol and 41 by biodiesel Biodiesel also releases
less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol These advantages of biodiesel over
ethanol come from lower agricultural inputs and more efficient conversion of feedstock
to fuel
Biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither significantly reduces reliance on
petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply There was a call for the development
of biofuels based on nonfood crops such as prairie grasses and woody plants which can be
converted into synthetic hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol To understand why the report
recommended using nonfood crops it is useful to investigate the ethical issues that arise in the
development of biofuels
Ethical Issues of Biofuels
The focus of this report is to explore the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel However
biodiesel is part of a more general category of biofuels that also includes corn ethanol In the last
ten years federal incentives have created a market for these biofuels This section includes a
discussion of ethical issues of biofuels My goal is to build an ethical justification for the pursuit
of biodiesel but not for corn ethanol
8 | P a g e
Food-Fuel Trade-off
Because biofuels are made using materials from plants or animals their development will have a
consequence on agriculture and the food supply Commodities like corn sugar and vegetable oil
can be used either as food animal feed or to make biofuels The food vs fuel dilemma asks
whether it is appropriate to divert agricultural resources away from the food supply when people
are starving in the world A compelling example of the dilemma occurred 2008 after the US
government mandated that part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into
cleaner-burning gasoline This caused a food shortage when US farmers diverted corn crops
from food production into the more lucrative biofuels market contributing to a jump in prices
and sparking food riots in Haiti Bangladesh Egypt and Mexico It is quite possible that this
situation may be repeated in the near future due In 2012 gasoline refiners will use some 132
billion gallons of ethanol which will consume some 40 of the corn crop This is taking place
during a surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the US in more than half a century
(Jegarajah 2012)
Fuel-Nature Trade-off
The fuel-nature dilemma explores ethical questions that pertain to appropriate land use First
people value land for different reasons ranging from farming to recreation to aesthetic
appreciation Another viewpoint is that animals plants and ecosystems have an intrinsic value
entirely apart from their use by human beings That said it is important to acknowledge that
human activities can irreparably harm nature and that society holds a collective obligation to
protect environments for future generations
The fuel-nature debate can be framed by a discussion of the agrarian ideals of the late 18th
and
early 19th
century Thomas Jefferson promoted agrarian ideals of self reliance family farms and
creation of an agricultural ecosystem that lived within environmental constraints In present time
there is evidence of a revival of agrarian ideals in organic farming community gardens and
farmers markets A reliance on local sources of natural foods might also provide motivation to
use arable land to produce biomass for transportation fuels Indeed it is conceivable that people
could come to see their use of fuels through the lens of sustainability providing a direct link to
agrarian ideals (Thompson 2008)
The Significance of Biofuels
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have provided figures to
demonstrate the non-significant effect of biofuels on the global economy (Bergsma 2006) The
FAO calculated that worldwide 4188 million km2 of land is available for agriculture although
just 1506 million km2 are in use and only 011 million km
2 are used for biofuels production
today which is no more than 1 of that area The FAO estimates that in 2030 0325 million km2
will be used for biofuels production which is no more than 2 of total agricultural land use
Nevertheless there is discussion of ways to free up land for the production of biofuels One
would be to use non-edible crops grown on marginal lands to provide biodiesel feedstock This
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
7 | P a g e
A viable alternative to petroleum diesel must meet four criteria show superior environmental
benefits over the fossil fuel it displaces be economically competitive with that fuel be
producible in sufficient quantities to make a meaningful impact on energy demands and provide
a net energy gain over the energy sources used to produce it In order to investigate these fuels
against the criteria researchers from the University of Minnesota and St Olaf College led by
ecology professor G David Tilman conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of
these biofuels (Manuel 2007)
Life Cycle Assessment is a tool for quantitative assessment of materials energy flows and
environmental impacts of products services and technologies There is a broad agreement in the
scientific community that LCA is one of the best methodologies for the evaluation of the
environmental burdens associated with biofuel production by identifying energy and materials
used as well as waste and emissions released to the environment moreover it also allows an
identification of opportunities for environmental improvement (Sanz-Requena 2011)
The Tilman study evaluated two predominant alternative transportation fuels in the United
States corn grain ethanol and soybean biodiesel The study used data on farm yields commodity
and fuel-prices farm energy and chemical inputs production plant efficiencies production of
coproducts greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental effects The study also included
energy required to manufacture the machinery used to farm corn and soybeans Study included
the following findings (Hill 2006)
Ethanol yields 25 net energy gain (eg biofuel energy content exceeds fossil fuel
energy inputs) whereas biodiesel yields 93 more
Compared with ethanol biodiesel releases just 10 83 and 13 of the agricultural
nitrogen phosphorus and pesticide pollutants respectively per net energy gain
Relative to the fossil fuels they displace greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12 by
the production and combustion of ethanol and 41 by biodiesel Biodiesel also releases
less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol These advantages of biodiesel over
ethanol come from lower agricultural inputs and more efficient conversion of feedstock
to fuel
Biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither significantly reduces reliance on
petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply There was a call for the development
of biofuels based on nonfood crops such as prairie grasses and woody plants which can be
converted into synthetic hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol To understand why the report
recommended using nonfood crops it is useful to investigate the ethical issues that arise in the
development of biofuels
Ethical Issues of Biofuels
The focus of this report is to explore the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel However
biodiesel is part of a more general category of biofuels that also includes corn ethanol In the last
ten years federal incentives have created a market for these biofuels This section includes a
discussion of ethical issues of biofuels My goal is to build an ethical justification for the pursuit
of biodiesel but not for corn ethanol
8 | P a g e
Food-Fuel Trade-off
Because biofuels are made using materials from plants or animals their development will have a
consequence on agriculture and the food supply Commodities like corn sugar and vegetable oil
can be used either as food animal feed or to make biofuels The food vs fuel dilemma asks
whether it is appropriate to divert agricultural resources away from the food supply when people
are starving in the world A compelling example of the dilemma occurred 2008 after the US
government mandated that part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into
cleaner-burning gasoline This caused a food shortage when US farmers diverted corn crops
from food production into the more lucrative biofuels market contributing to a jump in prices
and sparking food riots in Haiti Bangladesh Egypt and Mexico It is quite possible that this
situation may be repeated in the near future due In 2012 gasoline refiners will use some 132
billion gallons of ethanol which will consume some 40 of the corn crop This is taking place
during a surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the US in more than half a century
(Jegarajah 2012)
Fuel-Nature Trade-off
The fuel-nature dilemma explores ethical questions that pertain to appropriate land use First
people value land for different reasons ranging from farming to recreation to aesthetic
appreciation Another viewpoint is that animals plants and ecosystems have an intrinsic value
entirely apart from their use by human beings That said it is important to acknowledge that
human activities can irreparably harm nature and that society holds a collective obligation to
protect environments for future generations
The fuel-nature debate can be framed by a discussion of the agrarian ideals of the late 18th
and
early 19th
century Thomas Jefferson promoted agrarian ideals of self reliance family farms and
creation of an agricultural ecosystem that lived within environmental constraints In present time
there is evidence of a revival of agrarian ideals in organic farming community gardens and
farmers markets A reliance on local sources of natural foods might also provide motivation to
use arable land to produce biomass for transportation fuels Indeed it is conceivable that people
could come to see their use of fuels through the lens of sustainability providing a direct link to
agrarian ideals (Thompson 2008)
The Significance of Biofuels
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have provided figures to
demonstrate the non-significant effect of biofuels on the global economy (Bergsma 2006) The
FAO calculated that worldwide 4188 million km2 of land is available for agriculture although
just 1506 million km2 are in use and only 011 million km
2 are used for biofuels production
today which is no more than 1 of that area The FAO estimates that in 2030 0325 million km2
will be used for biofuels production which is no more than 2 of total agricultural land use
Nevertheless there is discussion of ways to free up land for the production of biofuels One
would be to use non-edible crops grown on marginal lands to provide biodiesel feedstock This
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
8 | P a g e
Food-Fuel Trade-off
Because biofuels are made using materials from plants or animals their development will have a
consequence on agriculture and the food supply Commodities like corn sugar and vegetable oil
can be used either as food animal feed or to make biofuels The food vs fuel dilemma asks
whether it is appropriate to divert agricultural resources away from the food supply when people
are starving in the world A compelling example of the dilemma occurred 2008 after the US
government mandated that part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into
cleaner-burning gasoline This caused a food shortage when US farmers diverted corn crops
from food production into the more lucrative biofuels market contributing to a jump in prices
and sparking food riots in Haiti Bangladesh Egypt and Mexico It is quite possible that this
situation may be repeated in the near future due In 2012 gasoline refiners will use some 132
billion gallons of ethanol which will consume some 40 of the corn crop This is taking place
during a surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the US in more than half a century
(Jegarajah 2012)
Fuel-Nature Trade-off
The fuel-nature dilemma explores ethical questions that pertain to appropriate land use First
people value land for different reasons ranging from farming to recreation to aesthetic
appreciation Another viewpoint is that animals plants and ecosystems have an intrinsic value
entirely apart from their use by human beings That said it is important to acknowledge that
human activities can irreparably harm nature and that society holds a collective obligation to
protect environments for future generations
The fuel-nature debate can be framed by a discussion of the agrarian ideals of the late 18th
and
early 19th
century Thomas Jefferson promoted agrarian ideals of self reliance family farms and
creation of an agricultural ecosystem that lived within environmental constraints In present time
there is evidence of a revival of agrarian ideals in organic farming community gardens and
farmers markets A reliance on local sources of natural foods might also provide motivation to
use arable land to produce biomass for transportation fuels Indeed it is conceivable that people
could come to see their use of fuels through the lens of sustainability providing a direct link to
agrarian ideals (Thompson 2008)
The Significance of Biofuels
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have provided figures to
demonstrate the non-significant effect of biofuels on the global economy (Bergsma 2006) The
FAO calculated that worldwide 4188 million km2 of land is available for agriculture although
just 1506 million km2 are in use and only 011 million km
2 are used for biofuels production
today which is no more than 1 of that area The FAO estimates that in 2030 0325 million km2
will be used for biofuels production which is no more than 2 of total agricultural land use
Nevertheless there is discussion of ways to free up land for the production of biofuels One
would be to use non-edible crops grown on marginal lands to provide biodiesel feedstock This
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
9 | P a g e
would avoid using edible crops their loss from the food supply and a subsequent increase of
food prices Another idea was proposed by Hannon (1977) and is called lsquoModern Agrarianismrsquo
The suggestion is to base land use for agriculture on the energy is used to produce what we eat
And in the process we will eat healthier The calculation goes like this in 1974 165 of the
energy produced in the US was used to bring food from the ground to the table In that year we
spent about 71 units of non-solar food energy to consume 1 unit of food energy Of this about
38 came from meat and animal products If all US animal feed grain programs were
suspended this would result in a reduction in the consumption f meat and animal products by
approximately one-third This loss of protein from the diet should not be a problem since
Americans eat 45 more protein than required Since a unit of beef protein requires about six
times the total energy of an equivalent unit of soybean protein such a change would reduce US
energy use by about 1 to 2 percent With these assumptions about 80 million acres of land
previously used to raise prime feed grain could be considered released from the food supply and
used to produce biodiesel feedstocks (Hannon 1997)
Making Biodiesel from Non-Edible Plant
Several studies have been conducted to identify suitable non-edible oil for the production of
biodiesel as summarized by Pinzi (2009) There are many considerations in identifying a suitable
source of oil that optimizes environmental economic and diesel engine performance
requirements Much of what defines an ldquoidealrdquo alternative biodiesel depends on the nature of the
fatty acids in the triglyceride (the ndashR groups) A good biodiesel will have a high presence of
monounsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic and palmitoleic acids) reduced presence of
polyunsaturated acids and controlled saturated acids content In this sense C181 and C161 are
the best-fitting acids in terms of oxidative stability and cold weather behavior among other
properties
Important specifications that determine overall fuel quality are density lubricity cold-flow
properties heat of combustion oxidative stability and sulfur content The nature of the fatty acid
will also influence the transesterification reaction and affect parameters such as reaction rate
yield and amount of reagent The price of the feedstock oils is by far one of the most significant
factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturing
Table 1 provides data that compares the cetane number and Iodine Value of edible and non-
edible oils that are good candidates for use in biodiesel processing Cetane number CN measures
the combustion quality of diesel fuel during the compression ignition stage of the diesel cycle
Fuels with adequate CN will have the desirable property of shorter ignition delay periods The
American Society for Testing and Materials requires that diesel fuel have a CN gt47 (ASTM
D6751) while the European Union requires a CN gt51 (EN 14214) The Iodine Value (IV) is also
a useful measurement of biodiesel quality indicating a measure of the degree of saturation of the
fatty acid A biodiesel with a good IV will display stability and long storage life under extreme
conditions
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
10 | P a g e
Table 1 A comparison of petroleum diesel to biodiesel made from soybean and non-edible oils (Pinzi 2009)
Methyl Ester Common
Name
Description Cetane
Number
Iodine Value
(g I2100 g oil)
Mineral Diesel 43
Soybean Oil 505 132
Cynara
cardunculus
Cynara spp Genus includes thistle
cardoon and artichokes
59 117
Calophyllum
inophyllum
Nagchampa
Polanga Oil
Tree thrives in zerophytic
habitats
573 715
Terminalia
catappa
Brazilian tree 571 832
LE Brassica
carinata
Ethiopian
Mustard Oil
Well adapted to marginal
regions
52 92-128
Azadirachta
indica
Neem Oil Tree grows in arid climate 54 70-74
Mandhuca
indica
Mahua Oil Deciduous tree 5661 742
Pangamia
pinnata
Karanja
Seed Oil
Tropical tree 5433 865-90
Jatropha
curacas
Jatropha
Curcas
Perinnial tropical plant 51 95-107
EN 14214 Standard CNgt51 IVlt120
ASTM D6751 Standard CNgt47 IV not specified
Fuel-health dilemma
So far my report has been concerned making biodiesel
using agriculture There is also great interest in
producing biodiesel using waste vegetable oil (WVO)
from the deep fat fryers and grease traps A fuel-health
dilemma is created by promoting an activity requiring
waste vegetable oil when there is strong evidence that a
diet high in fat causes disease Researchers have found
that elevated triglycerides in children may cause heart
disease and heart attacks as adults The study followed
the health of 808 children for thirty-one years Results
showed those with high triglyceride levels as children had a considerably higher risk of
developing heart disease as an adult and the risk looked as if it was directly relative to how high
the triglyceride levels were during their preadolescent years (Jancin 2009)
Final thoughts on Part 1
Biofuels are often promoted as a jobs program and secondarily as a homeland-security issue
Ethics however trumps these objectives because it irresponsible to promote technologies that
utilize agriculture as a manufacturing system for non-food products without simultaneously
admitting that they have the potential to cause severe harm to some of the worldrsquos most
vulnerable people (Thompson 2008) It must be agreed that biodiesel technology should not
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
11 | P a g e
cause starvation in underdeveloped countries The focus must be put on non-edible oils instead of
edible ones to gain social acceptance of biodiesel In fact if done properly it could have the
opposite effect by helping developing countries decrease their dependence to fossil oil imports
thus enhancing their Balance of Payments and general welfare (Pinzi 2009)
The current US Department of Agriculturersquos biofuels program may be an example of misguided
policy and in particular through the use of corn ethanol as a gasoline additive The remaining
parts of this report will focus on biodiesel production
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
12 | P a g e
Part 2 Chemical Considerations of Biodiesel
Basic Biodiesel Chemistry
Biodiesel chemistry is an example of organic chemistry since it deals with chemical reaction
between organic compounds The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic
compounds Organic compounds contain simple to complex arrangements of the element carbon
which act as the scaffolds that hold organic molecules together The properties of organic
compounds are dependent primarily on the physical structure of the molecules and by the
attachment of functional groups to the carbon backbone In fact organic chemists use the
functional groups to categorize and name organic compounds These include alcohols acids
esters aldehydes or ketones just to name a few (see Figure 3)
Figure 3 Examples of organic functional groups (graphic obtained from httppolaritybearsblogspotcom201106organic-chemistry-funtional-groupshtml on August 4 2012)
If a component of an organic compound is not important to the reaction being defined it is often
represented on paper as R which indicates the ldquoorganic restrdquo of the molecule under discussion
A special type of functional group is indicated by the presence of a single double or triple bond
(shown by the number of lines between the carbon atoms in Figure 3) An R group is said to be
saturated if it contains only single bonds otherwise it is considered to be unsaturated or
polyunsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds between carbons
Biodiesel is composed of mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable
lipid (or fat) sources such as vegetable oil or animal fats Esters are organic compounds
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
13 | P a g e
composed of an alcohol and an organic acid Alcohols are organic compounds that contain a
hydroxide (ndashOH) functional group Carboxylic acids are organic compounds that contain a
carboxyl (ndashCOOH) functional group
Vegetable oil or animal fat is composed of triglycerides of long chain fatty acids attached to
glycerol which is a type of alcohol Each triglyceride contains one 3-carbon glycerol attached to
a three chain fatty acids There are numerous types of triglycerides because of differences in the
fatty acids which differ in the length of the carbon chain or whether the chain is saturated
unsaturated or polyunsaturated Typical vegetable oils will be composed of single chains of 12 to
24 carbons with a carboxyl group
Biodiesel is made from the chemical reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol
such as methanol or ethanol A strong base such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide is
used to catalyze the reaction The overall reaction is shown in Figure 4 The reaction splits the
fatty acids from the triglyceride creating fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or biodiesel and
glycerol as a side product The reaction is called a transesterification because it transforms one
type of ester into another The density of the biodiesel is much lower than the glycerol which
allows the two products to be easily separated
Equation 1 Complete Transesterification Reaction
Biodiesel can be made from a variety of natural oils On an industrial scale the most important
oils are soybean oils and rapeseed oil Rapeseed oil a close cousin of canola oil dominates the
growing biodiesel industry in Europe In the United States the biodiesel industry primarily
depends on soybean oil because more oil is produced from soybeans than all other sources
combined Other candidates for feedstocks include recycled cooking oils animal fats and a
variety of other oilseed crops Today the most widely used alcohol used for biodiesel production
is methanol mostly because of its relatively lower cost
Other reactions will occur in addition to the desired reaction shown in Figure 4 Two reactions
will contribute to the production of FAME The catalyst is added to the alcohol prior to prior to
charging the heated oil For example methoxide is produced when the solid sodium hydroxide is
mixed with methanol
CH3OH + NaOH rarr CH3O-hellip
Na+ + H2O
Equation 2 Methoxide Reaction
The methoxide then reacts with a triglyceride to form FAME and a triglyceride anion as shown
in the following reaction The triglyceride anion then needs a proton to form a diglyceride If the
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
14 | P a g e
proton comes from another methanol a new methoxide ion is formed regenerating the catalyst
This process will be repeated until all of the triglycerides have been dismantled to form FAME
and glycerol
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
CH3O- rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
CH-O- +
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH3O-C-Rrsquorsquo
Triglyceride Methoxide Diglyceride Anion Methyl Ester Equation 3 Partial Transesterification
Other reactions can inhibit FAME production Two reactions will be shown First the
triglyceride can undergo hydrolysis to form a diglyceride or a monoglyceride with the separation
of free fatty acid from the triglyceride
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-C-Rrsquorsquo + H2O rarr
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquo
O
CH-O-H + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo
O
CH2-O-C-Rrsquorsquorsquo Equation 4 Hydrolysis Reaction
This reaction is particularly prevalent in heavily used oil from deep fat fryers and is the primary
reason used cooking oil contains free fatty acids The presence of a base catalyst facilitates this
reaction in a similar way as it facilitates transeserification except the end result is soap as shown
below
O O
NaOH + HO-C-Rrsquorsquo rarr H2O + Na-O-C-Rrsquorsquo Equation 5 Soap Reaction
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
15 | P a g e
Water can react in a similar way as methanol with triglycerides except it results in free fatty acid
production Free fatty acids form soaps with alkali catalysts Therefore either the presence of
water or free fatty acids will limit the effectiveness of the catalyst and inhibit the completion of
the transesterification reaction that produces methyl ester
It should be noted that while these reactions were drawn as if they are one way to the right they
are actually reversible reactions Moving a reaction to the left or right will depend on the levels
of starting materials and reaction conditions as summarized by Le Chateliers principle The
presence of water and free fatty acids creates a challenge when using WVO from different
sources to make biodiesel Waste vegetable oils that have undergone harsher use will have higher
levels of free fatty acids water and food contaminants
Biodiesel Production Process Using WVO
This section contains a short description of how to manufacture biodiesel from WVO with the
purpose to briefly discuss the most important considerations to make good biodiesel The steps to
making biodiesel can be summarized in the following steps
1 Pre-treating the oil
2 Titrating the oil
3 Reducing the free fatty acid content
4 Transesterification reaction
5 Washing amp drying the biodiesel
6 Dealing with the glycerin by-product
Pre-treatment of WVO A block diagram of the biodiesel production process using WVO is shown in Figure 5 Not
shown in the diagram is a pre-treatment step to remove food particles and water from the WVO
Filtering the oil will remove food particles Heating the oil and letting it separate is probably the
best way to deal with water The best strategy is to find a source of clean and dry WVO to begin
with It is also a good idea to keep the WVO heated particularly in winter to keep the oil liquid
Figure 4 Block diagram of the biodiesel manufacturing process
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
16 | P a g e
A biodiesel plant will include storage and processing equipment and components such as tanks
piping valves filters and pumps Figure 5 presents an outline of the important tanks along with
vessel sizing recommendations
Figure 5 Outline of a biodiesel processing plant
Titration Step The first step in starting a batch is to determine the level of free fatty acids (FFA) in the WVO
This is done by titrating a small sample mixed in a methanol using a 01 NaOH standard
solution and a pH indicator If the WVO contains more than 25 FFA then it must undergo
further processing to reduce the amount of FFA
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
17 | P a g e
Reducing FFA Level The preferred method to reduce FFA in terms of cost and ease of processing is to blend high
FFA oil with low FFA oil until the mixture has le25 FFA If this is not possible the FFA can
be converted to FAME by adding sulfuric acid and methanol One recipe for performing acid
esterification is to use 1 mL of sulfuric acid for every liter of oil you have
Titration will determine the amount of catalyst to add to the batch The basic formula for virgin
oil is to add 7 grams of KOH or 55 grams of NaOH for every liter of WVO that is processed An
additional gram of either KOH or NaOH is added for each milliliter of titrate used The amount
of catalyst must also be adjusted for purity level Figure 6 provides an example calculation
Figure 6 Example titration calculation to determine the recipe for a 50-gallon biodiesel batch
Make the Methoxide Solution Because it is important to completely dissolve the solid catalyst the methoxide is prepared in a
separate tank with good mixing The methoxide reaction is exothermic The amount of methanol
to use is determined by the formula one part MeOH to 4 parts WVO The methanol and catalyst
must be handled using appropriate protective equipment and good ventilation is required when
handling methanol The methanol must be properly grounded to avoid static electricity or sparks
Methanol burns with a clear flame
Transesterification The WVO is added to the reaction vessel and heated to 130 -135
oF (note it is important that the
temperature does not exceed 150oC since this is the boiling point of methanol) The heat is
turned off and the methoxide is slowly added The reaction will take place over two or three
hours with continuous mixing Turn off the mixer and let the batch sit for 18 to 24 hours during
which time the glycerol will settle to the bottom with the biodiesel on top After separation
decant the glycerol to a storage tank It is easy to know when all the glycerol has drained due to
the difference in colormdashglycerol is a dark brown liquid while biodiesel is lighter colormdashand
viscosity
It is recommended that the transesterification be conducted in two stages In the first stage 80
of the methoxide is added and the batch is allowed to react After the glycerol byproduct is
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
18 | P a g e
decanted a second reaction is conducted using the remaining 20 of the methoxide This
procedure increases biodiesel yield through Le Chateliers principle Wash and Dry the Biodiesel After reaction the biodiesel will still contain methanol and catalyst that must be removed The
most common way to wash biodiesel is with a gentle misting of water place at the top of the
wash tank The water will gently pass through the biodiesel picking up contaminants as it goes
The wash continues until the pH of water drained from the bottom of the wash tank is neutral
Drying the batch involves bubbling air through the batch for 7 to 10 hours
Dealing with the Glycerol Byproduct The byproduct of the transeserification reaction is the biodiesel glycerol (or BDG) It is a dark
colored liquid that contains the leftovers of reaction including methanol mono-glycerides di-
glycerides soaps free fatty acids oils biodiesel and glycerol An easy and inexpensive way to
deal with this material is disposal but be sure to follow the requirements of local waste
management authorities It is desirable however to extract and reuse the methanol component
which lowers costs and keeps methanol out of the waste stream Extraction is easily done by
heating the raw glycerol above 150oF (the boiling point of methanol) and passing the vapors
through a condenser
Making Soap from the Biodiesel Glycerol Byproduct
The BDG contains all of the elements that make soap such as mono-glycerides di-glycerides
soaps free fatty acids and oils The first step is to remove the methanol from the BDG prior to
using it to make soap that will come into contact with a person or animal Next the saponification
value (or SAP value) must be determined The SAP represents the number of milligrams of
potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide required to saponify 1 gram of fat under controlled
conditions (see Equation 5)
The SAP value is the key for making consistent soaps batch after batch First and foremost it
avoids the possibility of making soap that contains too much caustic which can be dangerous
Secondly it ensures there is just enough caustic to saponify all of the ingredients of the soap
does not feel oily and clean poorly The SAP value makes the BDG is just another ingredient in
the soap making process so that the BDG can be used to formulate recipes with other ingredients
such as perfumes and colorings or even performing advanced soap making techniques such as
creating fully transparent liquid soap (Knicely 2012)
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
19 | P a g e
Part 3 Recommendations for Developing a Biodiesel Processor at UIC
In 2009 the UIC Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) began a project to see if
biodiesel could be made on campus as it has been at other universities In June of 2009 the
materials to create the fuel were purchased and test runs using the main tanks began in the
summer and fall of 2009 to no success Personnel in charge of the program left at the end of 2009
and the project went dormant In the spring of 2010 the project began again with new personnel
Current staff tasked to make the project work used the previous notes and procedures to no
success either (UIC Internal Report 2011) In this section I will provide recommendations for
how UIC should proceed to make its biodiesel production program successful
Biodiesel Programs at Other Universities
Since the commercial production of biodiesel began in the US in the early 1990s academic
institutions have been involved in both research and outreach Some colleges only touch on the
subject in chemistry or environmental classes while others have full-blown research programs
The University of Idaho provided biodiesel for a test by the national park service in 1995
Students at Loyola University in New Orleans are introduced to biodiesel in organic chemistry
lectures The University of Virginia in Charlottesville teaches about next-generation fuel stocks
and using the oil from growing algae to make biodiesel Alabama AampM University is developing
a multidisciplinary course on biodiesel through the schoolrsquos engineering and chemistry
departments The University of Kansas doesnrsquot have a specific biodieselndashrelated track for
students but it does have a small-scale biodiesel plant used for student projects The University
of Georgia has a full-scale program designed around biodiesel called the Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program that teaches students how to run biodiesel plants (Christiansen 2008)
In order to develop my recommendations for a UIC biodiesel program I decided to model best-
practices from other universities that have developed biodiesel programs One of the more
successful university-based biodiesel programs in the country is located at Loyola University
Chicago The program called the Loyola Biodiesel Program (LBP) focuses on production
education and outreach efforts centered on utilizing waste vegetable oil from campus cafeterias
to create energy and other products1 To date students have produced over 5000 gallons of
biodiesel fuel offsetting more than 75000 pounds of CO2 emissions The LBP helps fuel
Loyolas shuttle busses In addition the LBP is the first University-based biodiesel recycling
program in the US to become fully certified to sell biodiesel fuel having obtained the
certifications required by the various federal state and city agencies who regulate the sale of
fuel The LBP manufactures biodiesel according to ASTM standards
In addition to manufacturing biodiesel the LBP also makes a liquid soap using the glycerol
byproduct The hand soap called Loyola BioSoap has been certified by the EPA as a Design for
the Environment (DfE) product The DfE program helps consumers businesses and institutional
buyers identify cleaning and other products that perform well are cost-effective and are safer for
the environment
1 See the LBP website at wwwlucedubiodiesel (last accessed August 7 2012)
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
20 | P a g e
The LBP began in the fall of 2007 when Loyolarsquos Center for Urban Environmental Research
and Policy (CUERP) launched a class with a goal to develop a program to convert the
universitys used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel CUERP is a multidisciplinary organization that
in part offers educational programs in environmental sustainability In addition the CUERP
works to reduce the Universityrsquos environmental footprint develops interdisciplinary faculty and
student research teams that investigates contaminants in Chicagorsquos air and water and reaches out
to neighboring communities to promote environmental sustainability
The development of the initial biodiesel course was funded with a $10000 grant from the
Environmental Protection Agency As time went on student projects built upon each other until
2009 when the LBP was created as an education program within CUERP Later the EPA
awarded the LBP another $75000 to educate Chicago-area high school students on biodiesel
The LBP is located in a small well-ventilated room in a university building that looks like a
large storage warehouse on north Broadway in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago The
LBP is staffed by a full-time manager and two part-time undergraduate students The university
pays for the salary and benefits of the manager and part-time workers and provides a room for
the production facilities All operating costs are funded through the sale of biodiesel to the
University and the general public They currently sell their biodiesel for $425 per gallon
producing around 2000 to 3000 gallons per year
The primary purpose of the LBP is not to recycle waste vegetable oil Rather it is to educate
students and the general public on the production and use of biodiesel fuel as a renewable energy
source In fact the LBP uses an outside organization called Chicago Biofuels which provides a
logistical service that contacts WVO producers picks up the oil filters and removes water and
delivers it to the biodiesel manufacturers Chicago Biofuels currently collects WVO from five or
six sources restaurants and cafeterias around Loyola
Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network (CBPN)
A number of campus biodiesel production programs have been established There is now an
effort to provide a forum and build a community for these collegiate biodiesel groups In order to
help facilitate this dialog a forum sponsored by the biodiesel program at Kansas University was
held at the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo2 This effort brought together a
number of collegiate producers from around the country and biodiesel experts from academia
national labs and industry During the course of this workshop interest was expressed in
continuing the conversation and forming the Collegiate Biodiesel Producer Network which
would continue to provide a forum for collaboration
The CBPN is now in the process of developing membership rules structure and short-term and
long-term goals The draft mission statement of the CBPN is The Collegiate Biodiesel Network
exists as a resource to and advocate for collegiate biodiesel programs to provide a forum that
enables communication and acts as a conduit to the broader biodiesel community
2 See httpwwwbiodieselconferenceorg2012SCHEDULEscheduleataglanceaspx (accessed August 7 2012)
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
21 | P a g e
Estimated Amount of WVO Available Near to UIC
In order to determine how much WVO was available in the UIC community I used information
provided by a 1998 study conducted the US Department of Energyrsquos National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) The NREL study collected and analyzed data on urban waste grease
resources in 30 randomly selected metropolitan areas in the United States The metropolitan
areas ranged in size from Bismarck North Dakota (pop 83831) to Washington DC (pop
3923574) The study found that the number of restaurants in most of the 30 metropolitan areas
studied was quite consistent at about 14 restaurants per 1000 people Cultural and dietary
preferences greatly affected the amount of oil used in cooking and it was found that the amount
of WVO from certain fast food restaurants was especially high However despite significant
local variations among a neighborhoodsrsquo grease output when entire metropolitan areas were
considered the quantities of WVO were reasonably consistent on a per capita (and a per
restaurant) basis (Wiltsee 1998)
I used the average WVO output of the Washington D C which has a population of 3923574
(1998 census) to develop an estimate for WVO available in the neighborhood of UIC
Washington DC has a restaurant density of 127 restaurants per 1000 people and produces 994
pound of WVO per person on an annual basis Using these figures I estimated that anywhere
from 13000 to 93000 gallons of WVO are produced around UIC per year (See Table 2)3
Table 2 Estimated amount of WVO generated in the neighborhood of UIC
WVO Produced 9 lb per person
Population of Chicago (2011 census) 2700000
Generated in Chicago 32 million gal
Collected from Restaurants 2000 to 13000 lb per restaurant
Total WVO Available from Chicago Restaurants
1 to 64 million gal
Total WVO Available from Restaurants Around UIC
(assuming 50 restaurants)
13000 to 93000 gal
I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling
company called Chicago Biofuels LLC Mr Probst indicated that these numbers were consistent
with his experience
Chicago Biofuels is part of a new movement in the waste cooking oil recovery business sector
These companies guarantee that all waste cooking oil collected is recycled into ASTM standard
biodiesel By farming the urban landscape and recycling all waste oil collected into biodiesel
customers participate in a movement for a cleaner greener city It is critically important that
establishments that generate waste cooking oil support companies like Chicago Biofuels
3 I discussed these numbers with Pete Probst who owns a local waste cooking oil recycling company called Chicago
Biofuels LLC All of the WVO collected by his company is targeted for conversion into biodiesel Mr Probst indicated that my figures appeared reasonable
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
22 | P a g e
Suggested Steps to Develop a Campus WVO Recycling Program at UIC
Based on my investigation into other university biodiesel programs particularly the Loyola
Biodiesel Program I have created the following recommendations to develop a functional
biodiesel recycling program at UIC
1 Create momentum by developing staff and student interest
Create an interdisciplinary (chemistry natural science public affairs education
marketing sociology biology business administration and social philosophy)
and hands-on course to explore practical solutions to pressing and complex
environmental problems A course on biodiesel could be the starting point for a
campus biodiesel program because it will generate student interest and create an
enthusiastic group of students who are passionate about biodiesel All successful
university programs are run by students
Develop interest among the various stakeholders These would include the Office
of Sustainability the Environmental Health amp Safety Office various departments
in the College of Engineering and College of Arts amp Sciences and the Physical
Plant Department The Faculty Senate and Student Council could pass legislation
to create a biodiesel program with a goal to focus political pressure on
administrators who might provide funding Finally it is important to reach out to
the UIC community which would include local and state government elementary
and high schools and local businesses particularly those that produce WVO
Center lecture and discussion to provide a solid understanding of the
sustainability movement environmental leadership and a well-rounded
understanding of the environmental social economic and political intricacies of
the issues
In a laboratory the students will design construct and operate a biodiesel
processor while learning biodiesel chemistry
As part of the course students will become advocates for sustainability in public-
policy forums (student senate local community City of Chicago and the State of
Illinois)
2 Create a Biodiesel Production Facility
The primary mission of the production plant will not be to recycle WVO rather it
will be to educate students and the general public on the production and use of
biodiesel as a renewable energy source
Locate the biodiesel facility close to undergraduate students lecture rooms and
instructor offices The facility should be accessible to students and the general
public (this said the current biodiesel plant is probably misplaced)
A biodiesel program that manufactures biodiesel on a regular basis needs a steady
source of clean WVO Collecting the WVO from the community requires
administrative coordination a dedicated staff and additional equipment to clean
the WVO Sources will need to do without the small income that they receive by
selling waste oil to commercial recycle companies The WVO will need to be
picked up on a reliable schedule Operating a WVO recycling operation is a big
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
23 | P a g e
commitment that may best be left to commercial recyclers It is recommended that
the university biodiesel program not collect the WVO Instead I recommend that
the program purchase the WVO from a service that will provide filtered and
water-free yellow grease for $1 to $2 per gallon The chosen recycler should
guarantee that all recycled oil is used for biodiesel manufacturing
The biodiesel produced should augment the diesel fuel requirements of the
Universityrsquos diesel vehicles and equipment
Funding to set-up and run the biodiesel production program will need to be
negotiated by the various stakeholders It may be necessary to pursue granting
agencies to get the program started
3 Staff and fund a campus biodiesel processing plant
The production and lab equipment should be paid for by University possibly
through a state or federal grant Place processor in a rent-free location preferably
near a science or engineering department on the East campus Size the plant to
produce ~50 galbatch
Staffing one full-time manager and two or three part-time students Duties are to
manage biodiesel operations teach research and other functions that develop the
program Research might involve biodiesel process optimization soap product
development and costbenefit studies Other tasks my include community
outreach collaboration with other university biodiesel programs and developing
student and faculty interest in the biodiesel program Salarybenefits provided by
the University through a combination of grants and departmental support
All operational costs (equipment raw materials storage and marketing) for the
biodiesel facility paid through the sale of biodiesel and soap products
4 Develop the capacity to make quality biodiesel and soap products
Obtain certifications from local state and federal granting agencies
Install laboratory equipment to test biodiesel according to ASTM D6751 - 11b
Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock
Using the glycerol byproduct make liquid soap that carries the EPArsquos Design for
the Environment (DfE) seal that identifies products that perform well are cost-
effective and are safer for the environment
Ways that UIC can ldquoGo Greenrdquo
In the short- and long-term there are several ways that the university can reduce its carbon
footprint with respect to waste vegetable oil Possible options include
Option 1 Have the motor pool purchase biodiesel for campus diesel engines All
purchased biodiesel will offset the Universityrsquos carbon footprint
Option 2 In addition to option 1 recycle all of the Universityrsquos WVO through a firm that
guarantees it will be used to produce biodiesel All collected WVO will offset the
Universityrsquos carbon footprint
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
24 | P a g e
Option 3 Operate a biodiesel production program to manufacture and sell biodiesel and
soap The University (staff or students) picks up the WVO from restaurants makes and
sells biodiesel and soap
Further Work Identifying UIC Biodiesel Program Costs
Missing from this report is the issue of cost Much of the economic data is available or could be
estimated How much do the various options and recommendations cost There are several
critical questions that need to be investigated such as
How much will it cost to operate a campus biodiesel program that includes a community
WVO recycling program compared to purchasing the waste oil from a vendor
What is the most economically desirable location for the biodiesel processor
How much will it cost to support a full-time staff member and what departments would
be willing to contribute to supporting such a position
There are many more questions dealing with cost Future work should entail a detailed study of
the cost of a UIC biodiesel program In the end primarily due to the cost of labor I do not think
that the program will be self-supporting particularly when getting it set up and running There are
opportunities to recoup costs by creating a course centered on the biodiesel processor or through
grants
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
25 | P a g e
Concluding Remarks
There is great interest in developing alternatives to petroleum fuels due to scarcity and
environmental concerns Over the last two decades government funding has encouraged the
development of biofuels specifically corn ethanol and biodiesel made from edible oils from
crops such as soybeans Corn ethanol is blended into gasoline to reduce air pollution Biodiesel is
also blended into petroleum diesel to reduce air pollution but can also be used straight with no
modification of the diesel engine and burns 78 cleaner than petroleum diesel
Life cycle studies demonstrate that both corn ethanol and biodiesel lose much of their
environmental advantage when the impact the agriculture used to produce them is considered It
is found that biodiesel has major advantages over ethanol however neither fuel significantly
reduces reliance on petroleum without dramatically affecting the food supply
A possible solution is to obtain alternative fuels from non-edible oils and biomass grown in
marginal lands It is important to realize that energy crops grown in marginal lands or biomass
from forests to produce biofuels may not provide the total amount of fuels required for our
current high energy-dependent life To reduce the impact on climate change and other related
problems including pollution a change in societal consumption habits required
There is a definite need for a biodiesel program at UIC particularly at a university with its array
of people and resources However rather than implementing a biodiesel program for the sake of
recycling waste vegetable oil the effort should be focused first of all on building momentum and
interest among the UIC student body I recommend that the biodiesel program be developed
around specific educational goals The UIC Biodiesel Program should be developed as a joint
effort of several university departments and groups It should start by offering a class that builds
a cadre of students interested in building and running a biodiesel processor
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
26 | P a g e
Appendix Proposed High School Biodiesel Curriculum
A requirement for completion of the RET is to develop a curriculum based on the research
completed during the summer The curriculum that I am planning will be designed to familiarize
my students with issues surrounding our need for alternative fuels as well as the organic
chemistry and technology of biodiesel production The curriculum is based on lessons provided
by the Loyola Biodiesel Program and consists of the following lessons4
Concepts to be addressed include chemical reactions organic chemistry acidbase titration
chemical manufacturing (technology) equilibrium principles (Le Chateliers principle)
exothermicendothermic reaction reagent reactants and products
Lesson 1 Making biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil
bull Transesterification exothermic reaction working with reagents
Lesson 2 Waste Vegetable Oil and Titration
bull Use titration to adjust the amount of reactants
Lesson 3 Properties of Liquids
bull Develop a correlation to predict the viscosity of biodiesel
Lesson 4 Combustion Lab
bull Compare and contrast the combustion of petroleum diesel to biodiesel
Lesson 5 Energy Debate
bull Understand issues surrounding the renewable energy debate
Lesson 6 Making Soap
bull Chemistry manufacture from glycerin using variables to alter the physical properties
4 See the LBP labs provided at httplucedubiodieseleducationlabs
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy
27 | P a g e
Works Cited
Bergsma G e (2006) Biofuels and their global influence on land avalability for agriculture and
nature Delft CE
Christiansen R (2008 September 16) Biodiesel on Campus Biodiesel Magazine
Hannon (1997) Modern Agrarianism Science Vol 197 no 4306 pp 821-822
Hill J e (2006) Environmental economic and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and
ethanol biofuels Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 11206-112010
Jancin B (2009 May 7) Pediatric Trighlycerides Predict Adulthood Events Family Practice
News pp Digital article accessed August 5 2012
httpwwwfamilypracticenewscomindexphpid=2633ampcHash=071010amptx_ttnews[tt_news]=4
8287
Jegarajah S (2012) Surging US Corn Prices Spark Food Versus Fuel Debate Last accessed
August 4 2012 CNBC News httpwwwcnbccomid48477352
Knicely R (2012) Biodiesel Glycerin - Can you really make soap out of it Article accessed on
August 5 2012 wwwutahbiodieselsupplycomblogarchives1422 Biodiesel Supply Company
Manuel J (2007 Feb) Battle of the Biofuels Environmental Health Perspectives pp A92-
A95
Pinzi S E (2009) The Ideal Vegetable Oil-based Biodiesel Composition A Review of Social
Economical and Technical Implications Energy amp Fuels Vol 23 2325-2341
Reisman J P (2010) A Climate minute - The Greenhouse Effect YouTube video accessed June
28 2012 httpwwwyoutubecomwatchv=Hi3ERes0h84 Scripps Institute University of
California at San Diego
Sanz-Requena J F (2011) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biofuel production process
from sunflower oil rapeseed oil and soybean oil Fuel Processing Technology 190-199
Thompson P B (2008) The agricultural ethics of biofuels A first look Journal of Agricultural
and Enfironmental Ethics 183-198
UIC Internal Report (2011) UIC Biodiesel Project Update
Wiltsee G (1998) Urban Waste Grease Resource Assessment Golden Colorado National
Renewable Energy Laboratory US Department of Energy